BETFRED CUP SCHEDULE TO CAUSE TROUBLE FOR SCOTTISH PITCHES
Says Motherwell groundsman
Paul Matthew, head groundsman at Motherwell has given an interview criticising the Scottish Professional Football League's decision to move the new Betfred Cup format forward into the summer.
The tournament will commence on July 16 with each team playing four games in a two-week window, as well as any friendlies they may wish to participate in, before the league season gets underway in August.
Motherwell FC groundsman Paul Matthew at Fir Park, Motherwell, pictured in Herald Scotland (Photo by Kirsty Anderson/Herald & Times) - KA.
Paul Mattew has spoken to Herald Scotland telling them this change to the calendar will endanger many of Scotland’s pitches by forcing games to be played on them before they are fully ready without any consultation with those charged with their upkeep.
"Can the SPFL do more?," Paul is quoted as saying. "Absolutely. If you take the new League Cup games in July, as a groundsman, I couldn’t think of anything worse.
“There was no consultation with groundsmen, nobody was interested in our opinion as a unit. Nobody asked if there was someone who would speak on our behalf, such as the Turf Care Association.
“Ultimately, we are trying to improve the product. While we get narrow windows after horrendous seasons, including the worst window on record that we are just coming out of, I dread to think what some guys who were in the play-offs are going to do to get their pitches ready.
“People can do the renovations, but it’s about the establishment of the grass to then play football on it. If we shorten the window in the form of the League Cup group games, we are in trouble. Our pitches will be in trouble very early on.”
In the full interview, which can be found here, Paul goes to speak of what he sees as a culture of a lack of respect for groundsmen in Scotland and why he thinks the Hampden pitch has got matters so wrong in recent months.
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