The FA Cup has had an interesting past with artificial turf, not allowing synthetic pitches to be used after the First Round Proper until fairly recently. However, football’s relationship with artificial turf has changed over the years, and the FA Cup followed suit. Keep reading to learn more about the history of the FA Cup and artificial turf.
When Was 3G Turf Allowed in the FA Cup?
In 2014, The FA permitted artificial turf (3G) pitches in rounds of the competition. Prior to this, artificial turf pitches were not allowed to be used after the First Round Proper. The change was an endorsement for artificial pitches, as the FA called for clubs of all levels to install artificial turf, in order to allow more community football to take place. They saw the benefits of 3G surfaces and FA general secretary, Alex Horne, said “3G pitches are a very useful asset and capable of delivering 50 plus hours per week as compared to a natural turf pitch which can deliver perhaps five hours per week.”
After the rule change, the first match in the proper rounds to be played on a 3G surface was at Maidstone United’s Gallagher Stadium on 20 November 2014.
How Can Artificial Turf Qualify For Use?
To qualify for use, an artificial pitch must be certified annually as meeting the FIFA 1 Star/Quality or IATS/IMS Standard, and included on the FA’s Register of 3G Football Turf pitches. A certificate or report must then be submitted to The FA for approval before play is allowed on that pitch.
Before installation, clubs should make their own assessment of whether or not an artificial pitch is a plausible choice for them, based on their individual circumstances and the amount the pitch will be used. It is also their responsibility to maintain the pitch properly, making sure it will pass annual testing. The FA have actually stated that most pitches that fail performance testing have not been maintained sufficiently.
How Common Are Artificial Turf Pitches?
The majority of professional pitches are not artificial, however, many clubs now have “hybrid” pitches. These are a mixture of real grass and artificial fibres, commonly around 95% natural and 5% synthetic. They’re popular choices for clubs as they accommodate considerably more play than 100% natural pitches and are much more durable.
However, some clubs do opt for fully synthetic pitches. The first English football teams to play on artificial surfaces were Queens Park Rangers, Luton Town, Oldham Athletic and Preston North End, and many clubs still use synthetic systems today. Artificial turf pitches can withstand extensive usage and are weatherproof and free-draining. They are able to be used in all weather conditions, whereas a natural pitch would become waterlogged and unusable in heavy rain. They are also generally lower maintenance than natural grass pitches, saving you money in the long-run.
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