McInnes delighted at better Pittodrie pitch

ABERDEEN manager Derek McInnes is delighted his players will be able to enjoy a better pitch at Pittodrie next season.

After the last Clydesdale Bank Premier League game of the campaign against Hearts tomorrow, head groundsman Paul Fiske and his team will begin upgrading the playing surface, which should take between eight and ten weeks.

McInnes told Red TV: “As has been the case with many pitches throughout the country, since the turn of the year the surface has been a major concern.

“The club has recognised this and has taken the best advice possible in order to have a better playing surface, which will improve the product for the fans.

“Paul and his team do a fantastic job and work tirelessly to maintain the pitch and this investment will be money well spent and will make their job a bit easier too I’m sure.”

The current sand-based surface will undergo a major 
upgrade. The new pitch base will incorporate “Fibresand” which has polypropylene fibres mixed through it. That will cover the existing rootzone of the grass to a depth of 100mm and will stabilise the upper rootzone without having a detrimental effect on the natural drainage capabilities of the pitch.

In addition to the new surface, irrigation will also be improved with the fitting of an inbuilt multi-sprinkler system. Fiske said: “The current surface is eight years old and has served us well, as we’ve never had a game postponed. However, this season we saw three inches of rain on the day of the St Johnstone match in December and that caused the most damage.

“The laying of a Fibresand reinforced pitch will prevent it from breaking up and causing bobbles and while, come February, aesthetically it may look a bit thin, it will not cut up in the manner of the current surface.”