Brian Reid has floated the idea of Albion Rovers obtaining an artificial surface amid bad weather calling off a host of lower league football matches.
Cliftonhill’s surface is in need of repair work ahead of a run which will see boss Reid’s side play five of their next seven scheduled League Two fixtures in Coatbridge.
Airdrie already have a 4G surface while Livingston, Hamilton and Kilmarnock have all used one in the Premiership in recent seasons. And Reid reckons it isn’t such a bad idea for smaller clubs.
After Rovers’ clash away to Stirling Albion on Saturday fell victim to a waterlogged pitch, he said: “There’s a lot to be said for astroturf parks.
“Spartans have a great set-up at Ainslie Park with Edinburgh City and their 4G. You see a lot of games called off at this time of year.
“The pitches get heavy and clubs like ourselves, and others in the lower leagues, it’s difficult to spend money on your park to get playing on it all the time. I was never a big fan of it when I was playing but it wasn’t a common thing when I used to playing on it. Younger players are brought up on these pitches so they are used to it.”
While the financial cost of tearing up the grass and replacing it with a new surface perhaps makes it only a dream, Reid reckons it would be a benefit to Coatbridge as a whole, not just Rovers.
He explained: “Budgets are tight but we would probably need it to make our park more playable at times. Airdrie have it and a lot of clubs have it. They can also train on it.
“An astro park for us would be great as we could train on it and we wouldn’t have to rent other parks out. We could rent it out to clubs and the community.
“There’s a lot to be said for it, in the lower leagues as a whole. You can then utilise it for your own needs. The board have been great with me in trying to get the park as good as we can.
“The budget constraints make it difficult. The park definitely needs remedial work on it to get things up to scratch. If somebody offers us an astro park, we would certainly take it!
“It would allows us to let the community use it. There’s a lot of bonuses to it. It’d benefit a club like Rovers but it’s a cost thing. I think the club and community of Coatbridge should look at for the future.
“Cliftonhill is a great stadium with plenty of memories but it’s perhaps draining on the club in terms of keeping it cost-efficient. All good things come to an end at some stage and things are needing to be repaired all the time.
“If things can be done to help it, this would be best for everyone.”
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