So what do people think about the move to an artificial surface?

I like smoking it.

Nothing wrong with a move to an all weather pitch, not done widnes any harm.
Agree it would have been nice had it been at a better location, but we are where we are so let's see what happens

Despite the doom mongers, development of the facilties is not out of the question, what is quite difficult is access should we get to situation where away teams bring coaches.
Think training on and playing on a consistent playing surface has got to be an advantage at home, only problem is you still have the games away from home where you end up playing on a mud patch aka early on in season up in cumbria

Why mention it? This is why threads 'drift", because you leave juicy worms like this and I'm a growing lad

....away coaches is the last of the problems any development would face

I think the facilities at RTF will be fine, as we'll have the option to train on their grass pitches in the early months of the season in preparation for the quagmires of the north

OK I will say it in simple words. Development of Ealing grasshoppers facility has already been discussed and looked at, it is not out of the question.
Access is however an issue.
Are those words simple enough.
It's not thread drift it's discussing the pitch we are going to be playing on

Thanks.

Really? Do you have any links to these discussions and specifically the bits about planning permission being sought and gained and any consultation that has been done with the residents of the local streets or the local school, some of whom have a history....sorry, DOCUMENTED history of objecting to planning requests. And Michael,you're taking the word of the owner who said "it can be developed" I suggest youo back to read the promises and projections he's delivered over the years and see which ones have come true.


Access is the number 1 issue when it comes to any development, along with a plethora of other reasons why take many years to get any sort of approval for developing the ground.

simple and naive Michael...like their author!



It is a thread drift, because the topic was the surface, not the location..........you naughty boy you. Watch out for the self styled moderator of truth and justice RONNIEQUIN......he'll report you to Dave on Sunday

Which owner?
Who mentioned any owner?
And good to see you are resorting to type and poor personal insults, well done

Ealing Grasshoppers (sic) would be a good rebrand for the Broncos given the amount of wandering around London the club does.

The surfaces should be fine for training and playing on. Will probably need to train on the grass pitches occasionally to keep sharp for away games.

Michael, you are basing your belief that the ground can be developed on a conversation you had with someone who attends the Union games and the video/forum comments from the club. If you choose to ignore the litany of failures and broken promises left in the wake of prior promises and claims then so be it.
As for insults....you were the one who claimed you'd use "simple words"...so stop being so precious.

Never called you or anyone simple. Purely used simple words, as per usual you have to resort to direct insults.

Yes Michael.....you weren't being condescending or insulting at all were you?

Oh dear. Anyone remember the thread subject

Whats the general feeling about Widnes's surface from the players?

I remember when it was first being introduced that players were conceded about turning injures. Has any studies been undertaken?

I suspect there are burn injuries from the surface on knees and elbows.

It doesn't seem to have done Widnes any harm. I suspect you get a true bounce, its fast............modern sport

Doesn't seem to have caused any problems at the New River this year (so the Broncos have already played one fixture on such a surface this year).

It seems to benefit fast top of the pitch teams. Definitely difficult to drag better opponents down to one's own level on it.

If coaches are a problem what about the teams playing against us - will they come in seperate bring cars or travel on the team coach as a team and training unit - just asking ...................

Lots of pitches out there with this surface in use, quite a lot of junior games and amateur does not seem to cause any issues with surface burns etc.
Maidenhead RFU pitch is a really good example of this type of surface as is Widnes, I think all the fears about burns etc have gone away.

Just before anyone kicks off about thread drift the fact i mention a rah rah pitch, schools regional finals use maidenhead and it works really well, i know intensity massivly different but still same issues

If the new "plastic" pitch, does anything it should give us an advantage, in the same way Batley and Fev have at home.
What will be nice is that we can have under 19s games before the first team play.
I always enjoyed those games when we were at The Stoop.

These modern pitches aren't anything like the old sand packed astro turf, that knackered your knees and fetched 3 layers of skin off every time you made contact.
Chatting to Hendo after one of the games this season, and he was going over all the travelling around he was doing because youth, under 19's, first team training, and match days were all at different locations. So he's definitely looking forward to everything being under one roof.
Furthermore we'll be allowed to do competitions, presentations, and the like on the pitch.
Just a shame about the rest, but that's been done to death elsewhere.

Where