Rocks are anxious to solve pitch problems

Postponements have become common at Nyewood Lane with numerous Bognor Regis Town and Chichester City matches called off because of a waterlogged pitch – and now the club have explained why.

James Askew, groundsman at the MKM Arena, has provided an update after recent postponements – an unusually high number compared to the few games lost over recent seasons. And he has explained a problem with one particular patch of grass has led to major headaches but is being put right.

The problems have hit Chichester City as well as the Rocks – City are using Nyewood Lane as a temprary home while a new 3G surface is installed at Oaklands Park. Last weekend both teams had games washed out.

Askew told the Rocks website: “Following several postponements at the MKM Arena this season, I wanted to update the supporters on an ongoing issue.

“The pitch has a proper installed drainage system under the playing surface which for years has ensured only a very small number of games have been postponed.

"This was installed many years ago. However, over the past couple of years with rainfall levels increasing it has become clear this drainage system is failing and can no longer cope.

"There are some areas of the pitch where the drainage isn’t performing as well as other areas.

“Significantly one small area has been severely affected with rainfall over the last month and half… an area around eight yards by five yards just outside the penalty box at the training ground end.

"This area has become incredibly soft and unfortunately this very small area has so far led to two first team fixture postponements while the rest of the pitch has been perfectly fine

“Jack Pearce and I met with a specialist sports turf drainage contractor to look at in-season options to fix this area of the pitch without the need to dig the pitch up. A solution has been identified and we hope in the next couple of weeks work will be able to commence. Before this work we are using covers to cover this area as well as the surrounding area.”

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