It’s not big and nor is it clever, but I must admit I chuckled when I saw the reaction to Aston Villa’s update of our ongoing pitch work this summer.
With Villa stretching the relaying of the playing surface months past its shelf life last season for some (at least back then) inexplicable reason, we all saw that lack of foresight bite us with a deteriorating field of play as 2017/18 fixtures ticked by.
The installation of a new pitch at VP continues ????#AVFC pic.twitter.com/UOpsCDtoXc
— Aston Villa FC (@AVFCOfficial) June 20, 2018
This summer the whole thing has been ripped up and we are starting again with newfangled technology and a bunch of science that applies to what I call ‘that thing you cut every other week’.
With the club citing ‘excellent progress’ with the new pitch installation, the details for anyone interested.
Come on admit it… you just sold the pitch didn’t you?
— Mark Ashmore (@mg_ashmore) June 20, 2018
7,000 tonnes of existing materials from the pitch have been removed and we have installed a new drainage and irrigation system – including eight sensor sprinklers. A new undersoil heating system has been put in and pressure tested and that included 19 miles of water pipes.
With that work done, 4,500 tonnes of material has now been readded as work continues and the figure is lower owing to a new camber to improve sight lines. The next step will be the Desso machines as they fibre-stitch ‘the grass’ together ready for the year ahead.
Despite the care and attention that has gone into the work, fans are in a devious mood for obvious reasons.
Can we afford it
— Camo (@adamcavfc1987) June 20, 2018
????????????
— Camo (@adamcavfc1987) June 20, 2018
Gone from Snodgrass to nograss
— TheBetCommunity (@TheBetCommunity) June 20, 2018
Got enough money to finish it?
— Rachy Patrick (@RachyAVFC) June 20, 2018
Did we take a loan out against the last 1 & got repossessed ??
— James Herrity (@hez73) June 21, 2018
Let’s hope we can afford to buy the seeds !!
— Tony Barr (@anteater78) June 21, 2018
Who’s paying for this?
— James Duffy (@jjduffy89) June 20, 2018
I’m guessing if we didn’t we’ll be giving it back to Homebase by Christmas
— Andrew George Maddox (@Ma1Andrew) June 20, 2018
Who's paying for pitch?? Is it on credit
— Ricky Martin (@RickyMa37442038) June 21, 2018
The whole "everything must go" vibe around Villa Park is getting ramped up. Place looks like it's having its soul ripped out.
— Ro-Ro-Rosputin…Russia’s Greatest Goal Machine (@Mr_Ro_Jangles) June 21, 2018
I knew we wouldn’t have sNOdGRASS this season ???? #UTV #PartOfThePride
— Matt Sully (@Matt_21_Sully) June 20, 2018