Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: eamonn on September 12, 2013, 12:14:07 PM
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Pat Nevin discussing how the vastly differing dimensions of pitches can effect the game with special mention to our own grand manor.
Sorry, it's a video link rather than a textual one. Might be a chore for eyeballs that wander:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22646131
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Touche Mr Eamonn (sodding accents don't work on this thing).
BUT - have you also noticed that depending on which website you go to, pitch dimensions vary. For example I have seen Villa down as 8280 on one website and 8550 on another. Does this mean they change? I know Stoke had to widen their pitch to play in the Europa League and they have long been known for the narrowness of their pitch - not so sure about the length.
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Yeah, I also remember seeing an article not too long back and we were surprisingly quite far down the list in pitch sizes.
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I have always thought the home of football was one of the biggest pitches in the country, I didn't realise it was the biggest though.
When they compare the size difference between Stoke and us though, its quite shcoking. I am suprised Loftus Road wasn't the smallest.
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In terms of actual ground size, White Hart Lane and Loftus Road are both tiny, but Stoke were obviously the worst pitch size-wise. Cheating bastards trying to play on a postage stamp.
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Play? Stoke play?
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I bet that really hurt our inexperienced team last year, especially against the teams that can really ping it about
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All pitch sizes in the Premier League have to exactly the same size now, 105m x 68m, and that's been the case since the start of last season.
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All pitch sizes in the Premier League have to exactly the same size now, 105m x 68m, and that's been the case since the start of last season.
True. From the PL handbook:-
"The Pitch
K.15. Unless otherwise permitted by the Board, in League Matches the length of the pitch shall be
105 metres and its breadth 68 metres.
K.16. The Board shall only give permission to a Club for the dimensions of its pitch to be other than
as set out in Rule K.15 if it is impossible for it to comply with Rule K.15 due to the nature of the
construction of its ground.
K.17. For UEFA Club Competitions the pitch must measure 105 metres in length by 68 metres in
breadth exactly. If for technical reasons of a construction related nature it is impossible to
achieve the required dimensions a UEFA Club Licence may nevertheless be granted provided
that the pitch is minimum 100 metres to maximum 105 metres in length by minimum 64
metres to maximum 68 metres in breadth.
K.18. A Club shall register the dimensions of its pitch before the commencement of each Season by
giving written notice thereof in Form 8 to the Secretary.
K.19. The Board may at any time require a Club to obtain and submit to the Secretary a report by
an independent expert certifying its pitch dimensions.
K.20. No Club shall alter the dimensions of its pitch during the Season without the prior written
consent of the Board.
K.21. Each Club shall take all reasonable steps to maintain its pitch in good condition throughout
the Season and the Board may require a Club to take such steps as the Board shall specify if it
is not satisfied that the pitch is being maintained to an adequate standard.
K.22. To take effect from the start of Season 2014/15:
Each Club shall provide and maintain at its registered ground an undersoil heating system
which shall be operated to the extent necessary to procure, so far as is reasonably possible,
that the pitch is playable on the occasion of each home League Match.
"
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If that is now the standard size - did we have to reduce our pitch size as it does not appear so by a lot when your at the ground ?
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I think we'll have to settle this once and for all - so of you see a very sprightly looking 60-something with a very long tape measure on the hallowed turf at about 2.45 on Saturday, you know who it'll be (before the eject me).
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I'm surprised Pat Nevin would be so uninformed in his analysis.
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Some still look bigger than others to me, especially ours and Old Trafford although that could be down to how high/low the camera positions is and the size of the stands can also play tricks.
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I think we'll have to settle this once and for all - so of you see a very sprightly looking 60-something with a very long tape measure on the hallowed turf at about 2.45 on Saturday, you know who it'll be (before the eject me).
I will send you five pounds if you do it in the buff.
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I think we'll have to settle this once and for all - so of you see a very sprightly looking 60-something with a very long tape measure on the hallowed turf at about 2.45 on Saturday, you know who it'll be (before the eject me).
To get the length of the pitch is easy at VP, we know that the 18 yard line is set, and our groundsman does a great job of cutting the grass into what appears to be equal strips, I think that there are three strips inside the 18 yard line, so all you have to do is count the strips and multiply by 6 [or however many strips in the 18 yard box] and you can then work out the pitch lenght!
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Was reading a PL booklet someone randomly left on a table during a break today....turns out the PL dimensions limit is 105 x 68 I think which we have along with Arsenal, two Manchester clubs, Newcastle etc.
Quite a few clubs have lower pitch dimensions though, Stoke predictably have something like 100 x 64, Fulham and Everton's are pretty titchy aswell.
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I think we'll have to settle this once and for all - so of you see a very sprightly looking 60-something with a very long tape measure on the hallowed turf at about 2.45 on Saturday, you know who it'll be (before the eject me).
To get the length of the pitch is easy at VP, we know that the 18 yard line is set, and our groundsman does a great job of cutting the grass into what appears to be equal strips, I think that there are three strips inside the 18 yard line, so all you have to do is count the strips and multiply by 6 [or however many strips in the 18 yard box] and you can then work out the pitch lenght!
I watch from the lower Trinity about level with the Holte penalty area. With those clear 6 yard strips, at free kicks you can get a good idea of how accurately the referee gets the wall back the full 10 yards. Some are very lax with walls as little as just over 8 yards away, it is rare that they ever get them the full 10.
As regards pitch sizes around the country, every schoolboy in the 1960s who knew his football could tell you that Doncaster Rovers had the longest pitch.
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Was reading a PL booklet someone randomly left on a table during a break today....turns out the PL dimensions limit is 105 x 68 I think which we have along with Arsenal, two Manchester clubs, Newcastle etc.
Quite a few clubs have lower pitch dimensions though, Stoke predictably have something like 100 x 64, Fulham and Everton's are pretty titchy aswell.
It's not a limit, it's a mandatory size unless the stadium is constructed in such a way that the pitch can't be that size. I'd be very surprised if any modern stadium was too small to meet the regs. Stoke certainly isn't because they had to (and were able to) increase their pitch size (before the PL brought in the rule) for their European games.
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Chelsea's is smaller than most for some reason.
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I expect Stoke made their pitch narrower so Delap could get his throw ins into the box easier.
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I expect Stoke made their pitch narrower so Delap could get his throw ins into the box easier.
They did and also to restrict the space better teams could use to beat them. But that was before the PL introduced the rule.
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As Ads has eloquently put it in the post match thread, Villa Park must be one of the least threatening away venues in the league, bit wide pitch, nice away dressing room, countering attacking team and a less hostile atmosphere than you'd get at say Stoke.
No wonder Man. United take the piss here year in year out.
5 home wins out of 21 against Lambert and it's not as if the previous three managers we've had can point to outstanding home records either.
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He probably lost about 5 and won 50 at Carrow R