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Post by Goldy on Jul 2, 2022 22:13:41 GMT 1
Could this be our last season playing on real grass? James has done a fantastic job on it this pre season.
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Post by Goldy on Jul 2, 2022 22:14:12 GMT 1
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Post by stevebone on Jul 3, 2022 14:01:15 GMT 1
Let's hope it is not the last season on grass. In my view putting 4G down at he Lane would be a massive backward step and would probably send some fans off to Pagham, Littlehampton or elsewhere to watch their football. Could put a few players off too.
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Post by Goldy on Jul 3, 2022 15:01:38 GMT 1
Let's hope it is not the last season on grass. In my view putting 4G down at he Lane would be a massive backward step and would probably send some fans off to Pagham, Littlehampton or elsewhere to watch their football. Could put a few players off too. I’m 💯 a grass person. But after listening to Jack at the forum,for the club to be self sustainable for the future that’s the way forward. I just hope it ends up being a bloody good one,and not some of the crap we’ve played on.
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Post by statto on Jul 3, 2022 17:39:08 GMT 1
Hopefully with decent posts as well, like what they’ve got at Havant for example. Not one of those training-type monstrosities with wheels.
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Post by cityboy on Jul 3, 2022 22:13:44 GMT 1
Like you Goldy 100% prefer grass, but we have to move with the times. A good 4/5g pitch is worth a fortune to the club with hiring ,possibilities etc. I am sure with Jack's inside knowledge within the FA only the best will be laid at the lane!!
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Post by Pete Helsby on Jul 4, 2022 8:41:02 GMT 1
St8ck to grass for me. I fully understand that a door opens for 7 days week usage with an atificial pitch. To be fair, I cant ever see our club ever attaining EFL status in my time and any leagues below allow artificial pitches.
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paul
Club Stalwart
Posts: 450
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Post by paul on Jul 4, 2022 9:10:18 GMT 1
I understand the business rationale behind the move to an all weather pitch but, unless I’m being naive, surely there’s only a finite number of sports clubs/teams looking to hire pitches on a regular basis in the local area and the more of these pitches that get converted, I would have thought that your ability to generate a club changing income reduces as time passes.
If there’s only one all weather pitch in the area then, yes, you’ve got an excellent business model with lots of bookings and you can charge a premium rate. If you’ve suddenly got 10 all weather pitches in the local area, all competing against each other for business, your ability to hire is not only reduced but the rate you can charge will also reduce so as to remain competitive with the other hirers.
Having said that, if the club is getting some sort of grant to cover all of the work then, yes, go for it! I’d be less keen if we were paying for it ourselves though.
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Post by Goldy on Jul 4, 2022 9:20:31 GMT 1
I understand the business rationale behind the move to an all weather pitch but, unless I’m being naive, surely there’s only a finite number of sports clubs/teams looking to hire pitches on a regular basis in the local area and the more of these pitches that get converted, I would have thought that your ability to generate a club changing income reduces as time passes. If there’s only one all weather pitch in the area then, yes, you’ve got an excellent business model with lots of bookings and you can charge a premium rate. If you’ve suddenly got 10 all weather pitches in the local area, all competing against each other for business, your ability to hire is not only reduced but the rate you can charge will also reduce so as to remain competitive with the other hirers. Having said that, if the club is getting some sort of grant to cover all of the work then, yes, go for it! I’d be less keen if we were paying for it ourselves though. Not gospel. But chatting with a youth manager,and he was saying with the set up the way it is at present and it’s only going to get bigger. The youth set up could hire it out from 4pm till 9/10pm in the week and then fully book it out over the weekend. Get a local West Sussex league team to also rotate Saturdays with Rocks, to be honest you could have two teams or three teams on there. I personally think it’s a good thing,just hate the thought of no longer playing on grass.
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Post by Rattlesnake on Jul 4, 2022 20:43:52 GMT 1
I agree, I prefer grass, but I think a number of clubs / companies / schools et cetera would like the cachet of playing on an artifical pitch at a well known / popular and well appointed club and a proper ground with cover on all four sides, rather than hire out an artificial pitch at a leisure centre. Of course, the hire cost must be spot on to compete.
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Post by cityboy on Jul 4, 2022 21:09:09 GMT 1
Think you have to look at the bigger picture. With 4 junior matches playing across the pitch early on a sunday. 4 full size pitch games potentially 8/9 games on that day. Canteen open plus bar most of the day big opportunity to earn extra money. On a Saturday, matches can be played in the morning and games potentially afterwards. Again opportunities to earn money. With midweek fixtures and training for nearly 40 teams no real problems getting the pitch used. A win/ win process and no brainer I afraid🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️
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