SFA cash would help the cause – McInally

Peterhead boss Jim McInally reckons more investment is needed in pitches at grassroots level.

His side train during the week at Forfar’s Recreation Park and believes more funding from the Scottish FA is needed to make pitches available.

Three sides in League 2 play on artificial surfaces – Clyde, Annan Athletic and Edinburgh City – and McInally understands why clubs in the lower leagues see it as a viable option.

A lack of income streams and difficulty getting games played during the winter months can lead clubs to installing AstroTurf

“It’s hard to find good grass pitches”

pitches, in a bid to get greater use out of the pitch from the wider community and to beat the cold snap.

The Blue Toon manager, whose own Balmoor surface was rated the second-best in Scotland, would like to see greater investment to help lower-league clubs.

He said: “It’s a community thing and it comes down to the SFA maybe spending more money on grassroots. It’s hard to find good grass pitches somewhere; we usually find at Forfar that kids are playing on it before us and Forfar Ladies play on it as well. There should be more facilities like that available.

“It’s not easy to bring in revenue and some grass pitches can be as bad. My own personal opinion is I don’t think it’s going to be good for players over the longterm and it will catch up with them.”

Peterhead midfielder Simon Ferry is withdrawn from games on artificial surfaces, due to a back problem.