Next season, what should we do?

[Grim O'Grady]

With all the postponements this season, maybe now is the time to discuss what we can do to improve things for next season?

Maybe some ground sharing with the clubs that have all weather pitches. Maybe Friday night football becoming more common place at these clubs?

Global warming is not going to reverse itself so we are stuck with our "new" climate for now. What is the SFA doing to help clubs out?

How come St Marks Park manage to keep their pitch playable so often. Is it just the location or can we learn a thing or two from how they maintain such a fantastic playing surface?

What about the teams that finish in the top 4 being prioritized in the fixtures to play their away games early in the season at the grounds that we all know are likely to have problems in the "difficult" months?

What do folk think are the possible answers?

Grimbo

[marksadams11]

The only reason we play association football in winter is a legacy from the 1870s where the established cricket season took priority.

The world has moved on a great deal since those times as has the weather system.

The season, and the Scottish FA could be British pioneers here, should run April to November. At least for a trial period.

Yes we would still gets games off but not so many. Plus pitches would be in better condition and could suffer more than one home game a fortnight.

It's got to be worth a look.

[newcastle broon]

I think every team except city should get a 15 point start then the league might become exciting. The last 2 seasons have been boring and that's he haw to do wi the weather. Teams should get their act together on the pitch before trying to blame the climate. I can mind it was not so long ago Ferguson Park had a cup final nearly 7 days a week. This has been an exceptionally wet winter. Rant over!!

[scrooge1928]

I found the last two seasons have been very interesting indeed.

Being honest, City were fortunate to be able to play on some of the more unreliable grass pitches early in the season before the bad weather kicked in, and very fortunate that the staff at Meadowbank keep our own park in such good condition. We have rarely had two consecutive Saturdays without a match.

[lionel hutz]

Stirling Uni, BSC Glasgow and Cumbernauld Colts (I'm not sure if Grass or not) don't do themselves any favours by sharing grass pitches with SPFL and Junior teams. Stirling Uni should move back to their own sport centre and do what Edinburgh Uni have done. Have BSC Glasgow ever mentioned building their own ground? 

[HibeeJibee]

Stirling Uni, BSC Glasgow and Cumbernauld Colts (I'm not sure if Grass or not) don't do themselves any favours by sharing grass pitches with SPFL and Junior teams. Stirling Uni should move back to their own sport centre and do what Edinburgh Uni have done. Have BSC Glasgow ever mentioned building their own ground? 

 

That's a really unfair criticism of 2 of the 3 clubs you select.

 

Cumbernauld Colts play on 3G.

 

Stirling University play on grass but it has had, AFAICS, as total of 5 or 6 postponements over 3 seasons i.e. an average of 2 or less per season.

 

It will have the best performance of any grass pitch in LL, except the indestructible surface at Peffermill and probably Meadowbank.

[gaz5]

Stirling Uni, BSC Glasgow and Cumbernauld Colts (I'm not sure if Grass or not) don't do themselves any favours by sharing grass pitches with SPFL and Junior teams. Stirling Uni should move back to their own sport centre and do what Edinburgh Uni have done. Have BSC Glasgow ever mentioned building their own ground?

Colts and Stirling Uni were recently voted as having the best playing surfaces in the league and both have had 1 game postponed (for snow) I believe.

What an odd criticism.

[tamthebam]

Whitehill could just dig a wee hole in the middle and the rain will gurgle down some old mineworks. In fact the rain might flow down to the old colliery and cause all the incomers hooses to sink, causing mirth and hilarity amongst the natives. 

[The Mantis]

Whitehill could just dig a wee hole in the middle and the rain will gurgle down some old mineworks. In fact the rain might flow down to the old colliery and cause all the incomers hooses to sink, causing mirth and hilarity amongst the natives.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Secretly a native

[comeon]

Given the financial implications all teams having both a grass and astro that meets the LL critea is albeit impossible

 

To have an astro if affordable is sadly the only way forward in my opinion although nothing compares to a quality grass pitch but in this climate that is a thing of the passed to expect the amount of games required to be played

 

Suggestion why cant clubs / sfa / council perhaps come together build said astro / Astros and share them on different days for matches between teams ?

[newcastle broon]

Given the financial implications all teams having both a grass and astro that meets the LL critea is albeit impossible

 

To have an astro if affordable is sadly the only way forward in my opinion although nothing compares to a quality grass pitch but in this climate that is a thing of the passed to expect the amount of games required to be played

 

Suggestion why cant clubs / sfa / council perhaps come together build said astro / Astros and share them on different days for matches between teams ?

I don't know how it works but our lowest gate at HOME this season was at Galashiels v Duns. I would imagine the time the club paid for its use as well as add ons like programmes etc they would've been out of pocket bud.

Don't think that would ever work.

[Rab B Nesbit]

Whitehill could just dig a wee hole in the middle and the rain will gurgle down some old mineworks. In fact the rain might flow down to the old colliery and cause all the incomers hooses to sink, causing mirth and hilarity amongst the natives.

Maybe when City come calling we could make the wee hole every so slightly bigger and stick you in it Tam. Just deep enough so your Santa hat is sticking out ...