Sports teams face pitch struggles from hot weather

Grassroots sports clubs across Shropshire say they are struggling to keep their pitches alive because of the hot, dry weather.

Telford Hornets Rugby Club are one of many who said the pitches they play on are dying because spending to irrigate would cost them thousands of pounds, money which they do not have.

Since 15 June, most of England has recorded less than 10mm of rain, which has meant many clubs are praying for a sustained downpour.

The club’s chairman, Neil Thomas, said they have had to learn strategies to keep their pitches in as good condition as possible, so they can continue playing on them.

As many sport teams return from their off-season, players are faced with the prospect of playing on hardened pitches, which physiotherapists say increase the chances of soft tissue injuries.

Thomas said it was possible the club could recover the pitch, but he was praying for rain.

“I think we need rain everywhere. If we could get rain, a decent amount not all at the same time, our pitches will recover within about two or three weeks,” he added.

“We can then look at over-seeding to let the new grass grow. We’ve still got an opportunity [to recover the ground in] August and September.”

He added if the club were to irrigate, the club would have to use 30,000 litres of water each day, costing them thousands.

One of the most common practices to try and keep pitches healthy is called verti-drain.

Long metal spikes are pushed into the ground, creating deep channels for air, water, and nutrients to go through the soil, which can prevent the pitch from getting waterlogged in the winter.

Thomas said the club did this but needed water to make it work.

“The sand needs moisture to be able to aerate and give moisture to the roots below but that hasn’t happened because of the lack of rain” he added.

“We had a similar situation last year and it did come back but it needs the weather to be able to do it, over a sustained period of time, not two days of 15 centimetres.”

For summer sports, those involved at their clubs said they were worried for the long-term because of high temperatures in future summers.

Fred Baker, chairman of Telford Raiders Rugby League Club, said the standard of pitches could mean, in the worst case scenario, seasons could have to be abandoned.

“If we reach a point that referees feel that pitches aren’t playable unless we have a very major break in the weather and a lot of rainfall, we could actually find that our season is truncated,” Baker said.

He added this season would be okay but if pitches became harder, the club could have to play their games outside the town.

“There are a small number of 3G artificial pitches in the area that we could use. For rugby, [pitches are] few or far between,” Baker added.

“It might mean that we would have to travel to Birmingham or Coventry or somewhere in order to be able to play games.”

Shropshire-based physiotherapist Rachel Kili said, when playing surfaces are hard, players are more likely to suffer from soft tissue, joint injuries and shin splints.

“When you are running or doing any movements, the normal shock absorbency that would otherwise arise if you were on softer ground is instead passed through your body,” she said.

“Because the ground is so hard, we slip because you don’t get the support from the grass to hold even if you’ve got studs in your footwear.

“If you fall, when you fall, you’re going to fall harder.”

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