| Arsenal opts for successful Dutch football pitch approach |
| SGL Press Release ©, 9th May 2005 |
The successful approach used at the PSV field is being picked up internationally. The English Arsenal will improve the quality of the pitch in the Highbury stadium during the coming football season. Like PSV, the London club will do this in collaboration with and using the concept developed by SGL of Aalsmeer. This concept is based on expertise about grass growth, growing techniques used in the market gardening industry and stadium construction. On Friday, Arsenal and SGL announced that Arsenal will start using the Dutch invention in September.
By fully controlling and managing all growth factors, such as light, temperature, CO2, water, air and nutrients, the SGL concept makes it possible to grow grass, even during the winter in stadiums with low lighting levels. 'Combining a variety of technologies makes it possible to grow grass continually year round. Ensuring continuous growth means that grass in the stadiums can recover quickly after each match, keeping the grass in good condition. This enables us to continually maintain an optimal playing field', declares Nico van Vuuren, SGL's director. Seven Dutch companies are involved in the development of the SGL concept.
The visible part of the concept consists of a mobile aluminium structure with movable arms packed with the type of light fixtures used in the market gardening industry. The light fixtures are suspended two metres above the field and operate day and night. At PSV, where SGL was given the opportunity to demonstrate the concept for the past six months, ten 13 x 27-metre mobile units were installed on the field, creating a structure that covers the entire field. At PSV, the structure was only removed from the field during matches and other events.
The people at PSV have become firm advocates of the SGL concept for the sacred grass. The introduction of the SGL concept in Eindhoven exceeded everyone's expectations, both in optical terms and in terms of growing technique. The results were so good that the grass had to be mowed during the winter months for the first time in PSV's existence. According to groundsman Harry van de Berk, the amount of grass mowed was similar to that removed during the summer. Moreover, the grass roots were as much as four inches long in the winter period. As a result, the PSV pitch was virtually undamaged after a match. Moreover, as a result of the strong growth and density of the grass, the PSV field was more level than before.
Thanks to the SGL concept, PSV's pitch was of summer quality even during the winter period. PSV even dared to claim that it has the best field in the Netherlands and perhaps in Europe. The latter was whole-heartedly confirmed not only by trainer Guus Hiddink ('There is a world of difference') and the players, but also by the groundsmen and managers of English, German, Spanish and Dutch clubs whose curiosity was sufficiently aroused that they came to check out the innovative development. Other clubs quickly showed genuine interest in the concept.
Arsenal is the first major foreign club that is actually going to use the concept in practice. Arsenal consultant adviser John Hewitt of Hewitt Sportsturf has been involved with all aspects of pitches and grass development for 16 years, including the pitch design for the clubs new Emirates Stadium currently under construction. John Hewitt sees the SGL Concept as an essential management tool to achieve optimum growth in stadiums and has actively promoted the SGL Concept within the overall design. John is delighted with Arsenal’s commitment to providing facilities and equipment to ensure the pitch will be of the highest quality to exceed that of the current highly acclaimed Highbury renowned as one of the best pitches in the world. The contract for the purchase of the concept was signed on Friday by stadium manager John Beattie and Nico van Vuuren, to the complete satisfaction of groundsman Paul Burgess. Manager Arsene Wenger also received an extensive briefing from the Dutch grass specialist.