Remember them?
What a complete and utter con they were. No surprise then that Mr Venables was at the forefront of this football revolution. These 80's pitches were not like the 3G/4G/hybrid ones around today. They were basically like thick carpet, akin to the hockey pitches or tennis courts you see about in some parks.
The earlier versions were hard as rock. Players would lose their footing regularly and the ball would bounce ridiculously high as passes were pinged about the pitch like a rubber ball. Any players that dared fall over risked carpet burns. Rumour had it that Venables used to allow away teams to train on the dry pitch before a game, then on match day, water the turf so the ball played differently.
Four English clubs: QPR, Preston, Luton and Oldham installed the astro turf, and coincidentally, overnight, they all saw a dramatic turn and rise in form. It was just crazy the advantage these clubs had, and looking back can't believe they were allowed to do it.
QPR were first to cheat....I mean go plastic, in the 81/82 season when they were in the 2nd Division. By the end of 87/88, when football legislation ruled against top flight clubs having it; QPR had won promotion to Div 1 within 2 seasons - where they remained; reached 2 Cup Finals and qualified for Europe!
Luton had there pitch installed in 85/86. Got to the FA Cup semi final that season - being drawn at home every round; finished the first few years exclusively in the top half of Division 1 and winning the League Cup in the process. They were finally relegated in 91/92: the season after their artificial turf had to go.
Oldham had theirs between 86-91 and coincided with a massive turn in fortunes. A mediocre 2nd division side at the time, they finished 3rd in their first season with it - missing out on promotion in the play offs but finally won promotion in '91. Also reached the League Cup Final and FA Cup semi final.
Preston had theirs installed in 1986 when in Division 4 and were probably least successful. However, they still won promotion in their first season on plastic, and reached the 3rd division play offs two years later.
Saw a few games at Loftus Road and Kenilworth Road on this surface, as late as 1990/91, when we played Luton in a season opener. It was at that time when they not only had the plastic pitch advantage but also banned away fans too. However, some of us still found a way in that day :p The game play just wasn't the same, and made for an almost ping ball type affair.
Anyone have memories and stories of these pitches? Guessing the 1982 semi Final at QPR will crop up as some Palace fans actually made an impromptu pitch inspection while the game was still playing. :)
What a complete and utter con they were. No surprise then that Mr Venables was at the forefront of this football revolution. These 80's pitches were not like the 3G/4G/hybrid ones around today. They were basically like thick carpet, akin to the hockey pitches or tennis courts you see about in some parks.
The earlier versions were hard as rock. Players would lose their footing regularly and the ball would bounce ridiculously high as passes were pinged about the pitch like a rubber ball. Any players that dared fall over risked carpet burns. Rumour had it that Venables used to allow away teams to train on the dry pitch before a game, then on match day, water the turf so the ball played differently.
Four English clubs: QPR, Preston, Luton and Oldham installed the astro turf, and coincidentally, overnight, they all saw a dramatic turn and rise in form. It was just crazy the advantage these clubs had, and looking back can't believe they were allowed to do it.
QPR were first to cheat....I mean go plastic, in the 81/82 season when they were in the 2nd Division. By the end of 87/88, when football legislation ruled against top flight clubs having it; QPR had won promotion to Div 1 within 2 seasons - where they remained; reached 2 Cup Finals and qualified for Europe!
Luton had there pitch installed in 85/86. Got to the FA Cup semi final that season - being drawn at home every round; finished the first few years exclusively in the top half of Division 1 and winning the League Cup in the process. They were finally relegated in 91/92: the season after their artificial turf had to go.
Oldham had theirs between 86-91 and coincided with a massive turn in fortunes. A mediocre 2nd division side at the time, they finished 3rd in their first season with it - missing out on promotion in the play offs but finally won promotion in '91. Also reached the League Cup Final and FA Cup semi final.
Preston had theirs installed in 1986 when in Division 4 and were probably least successful. However, they still won promotion in their first season on plastic, and reached the 3rd division play offs two years later.
Saw a few games at Loftus Road and Kenilworth Road on this surface, as late as 1990/91, when we played Luton in a season opener. It was at that time when they not only had the plastic pitch advantage but also banned away fans too. However, some of us still found a way in that day :p The game play just wasn't the same, and made for an almost ping ball type affair.
Anyone have memories and stories of these pitches? Guessing the 1982 semi Final at QPR will crop up as some Palace fans actually made an impromptu pitch inspection while the game was still playing. :)
0 commentaires:
Enregistrer un commentaire