The 3G Debate

[Deleted]

I read in The Non League paper yesterday The Matt Badcock article on page 39, I thought for those who have not seen it I'd quote the final piece of his report........

"The National League insist the surfaces match up to the same requirements FIFA demand for international matches. But the league also came up with a new rule when they gave the green light at step 1. If a club finds itself in the promoted at the end of the National League season and refuse to replace their 3G pitch with grass - at great expense - they are subject to a automatic relegation to step 2. Essentially a double relegation. Then they'd need to have a grass pitch to be allowed back into step 1.
What if Sutton and Bromley keep up their good form? What if Maidstone come on strong much like they did last season? Suddenly in the final weeks of the campaign we could see clubs fielding weakened teams to make sure they finish outside the top seven to save being booted down to step 2 or having to destroy their business model. It questions the very integrity of the competition.
There's also a belief that it's possible barring the clubs from promotion would'nt be upheld by an FA Tribunal or a Court of Law. As the three clubs in their statement released by 3G4US, a contact group of football clubs say, 'Everything possible should surely be done by the English football authorities to pre-empt this situation from ever arising'. "

..........So there you have it, a crazy mess, dig up your 3G to win promotion into The Football League, refuse and you are relegated to step 2, but to earn promotion back to step 1 in the future you must do so playing on grass.....either way as it stands they have to revert to grass at some point.
I'm sure this will have many debating the issue........................

[westendspitfire]

Given the fact that it is so bloody difficult to get out of the league and there is a strong possibility that if any of the teams did over perform then the big boys could/would, at any time, buy their best players long before they could get close to promotion.
Think the financial benefits of 3G outweigh any risk of promotion substantially.

[tenacres]

or even one of them could end up "throwing" a play off game to not get promoted. Would be very odd.

I can't see it happening in all honesty, if any of the 3 do win the league or playoffs then I am sure they would end up in league 2 next season, whether that be with a 3G pitch or they end up replacing it with grass. I am sure the lure of league football would be too much, despite any protestations they may have otherwise.

I think the national league will be really hoping that none of Bromley, Maidstone & Sutton make the top 7 and then they can ignore it all for another year. One thing is for certain though, this issue is not going away.

[steve]

As much as I dislike watching football on the 3G I agree with everything both Doswell & the Maidstone chairman said in their joint statement.

When we played Maidstone in the trophy a couple of years ago you could see their plans and how the stadium was used by the community and what role the football club played in the community.

Sutton have built similar foundations and with their cup exposure last year have created something very good. Fair play to the both of them and hopefully the football league sees sense and allows it very soon...

I think more clubs should look at what these clubs have done and how it would benefit the community & more importantly the football club to get valuable income.

[blueandwhite]

I get the community aspect, I do. But that doesn't justify playing professional football on these plastic pitches.

If all clubs have a separate pitch they hire out and hundreds of people use and they make good money then that's great. Just not right for professional football,

[rocky]

Grass for me every time

[bomber]

In our division there's no application needed to go up. And if anyone in the top 7 isn't eligible to go up for any reason then the number of clubs in the playoffs is reduced - teams finishing 8th or lower cannot get into the playoffs.

Here's the rule:
"At the end of the season, the Clubs who finish in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th & 7th at the end of the Playing Season in accordance with Membership Rule 12 and meet the Qualification Criteria for The Football League as at 1st March and meet the Criteria for Admission to Full Membership of the Football Conference Limited shall be eligible to enter the end of season National League Play- Offs Competition “Competition”.
If a Club is not eligible to enter the Competition then it shall not take part in any play-off matches. In that event such Club shall not be replaced and the Competition structure and draw shall be adjusted as necessary by the Board on the basis of the remaining Clubs’ final league positions."

"27.1 The playing surface shall be grass and must be of a high standard, as defined by The League."

Sutton, Bromley and Maidstone would have to meet this (and all other) EFL criteria by March 1st in order to be eligible for promotion. I haven't checked, but I assume they would not be allowed to dig up their plastic pitches and re-lay grass mid-way through this season. Though I very much doubt any of the three would want to do that anyway.

[thelake]

they can comepete in the po's and get promoted. as current rules stand they would then have to rip the pitch up in the summer