Tag Archive for: League

Saving the Champions League from ‘Biblical’ Downpours

Saving the Champions League from ‘Biblical’ Downpours: Managing cup competitions alongside domestic fixtures is difficult at the best of times. But it’s even harder when games in the Champions League need rescheduling.

The extra mid-week travel puts pressure on football’s elite clubs, with some squads clocking up thousands of added miles to complete their fixtures. It’s a complication every manager wants to avoid.

Still, you can’t account for the weather and sometimes it’s so bad a game seems destined for another date. That is, unless you have SIS Pitches managing the playing surface.

Saving the Champions League from ‘Biblical’ Downpours

Saving the Champions League from ‘Biblical’ Downpours

When it rains, it pours

It’s November 29, 2023. Galatasaray are set to host Manchester United in Istanbul for the second leg of their Group A clash.

Rams Park, Galatasaray’s home ground, sees a range of conditions throughout the year, with city temperatures averaging between 20-28°c for the first few months of the season. Cooler temperatures, rain and even snow are common during the winter months, owing to Istanbul’s altitude and coastal position.

Rain was forecast for November 29 – certainly not unusual for the time of year. However, the amount expected to fall is what gave UEFA cause for concern. Observation notes and data collected by SIS on the morning of the game tell their own story. From 10am, thunderstorms would occur throughout the day, bringing near-constant rain up until midnight.

The right system at the right time 

Conscious of a potential postponement, SIS activated its SISAir soil aeration system at 9.15 am. SISAir has been developed to help sports club owners and groundskeepers make the most of root zone growing conditions, making it easier to maintain stronger, healthier turf.

The system is installed just underneath a site’s playing surface. Once in-situ, SISAir can be used for subsurface aeration, water removal and gas exchange. This is done by setting the network of pipes to vacuum mode or pressure mode.

As Ilyas Kobal, Managing Director at SIS Pitches (Eastern Europe) points out: “We knew vacuum mode would be critical throughout the day, so we began with manual operation early that morning to gauge rainfall intensity and the need for both pumps to discharge water.”

According to SIS notes, at 10.18 am the system’s drainage well recorded a level of 50cm, triggering the first pump into action. The rain was heavier than expected throughout the late morning, causing the second pump to start.

A few hours later, just before 1 pm, the pumps were stopped as the well water level fell below the 50cm mark for the first time. The system was proving highly effective, though it would only be a temporary reprieve with more bad weather to come.

“We only had a short period with the pumps off,” adds Ilyas. “But we had proof of concept. These conditions were extremely challenging but the system was more than prepared to handle the strain. That gave us confidence knowing what was to come.”

Will they, won’t they?

As torrential rain continued throughout the day, fans and journalists began to question if the evening game would be called off. One noted the ‘biblical showers in Istanbul’ while another tweeted that the two teams would be ‘playing in a swamp’ if the game wasn’t postponed.

Speculation continued to mount as the U19s competed in a UEFA Youth League match at the nearby Recep Tayyip Erdogan Stadium. Video of that match showed the ball barely rolling across a heavily waterlogged pitch making it ‘virtually impossible for players to perform’.

Unlike Rams Park, Recep Tayyip Erdogan Stadium is not fitted with SISAir. This demonstrates the importance of effective surface management systems for major sporting events, particularly in regions where poor playing conditions are common.  At Rams Park, water was being siphoned off just as fast as it was settling. At the other stadium, the pitch was effectively unplayable.

Shortly after the U19s match concluded, former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand said he was doubtful the evening’s fixture would go ahead, and throughout the afternoon UEFA officials were seen inspecting Galatasaray’s pitch. Some threw match balls into the air to test responsiveness only to find them sticking to the ground upon impact. Many agreed with Ferdinand’s assessment at the time, but the SIS team were confident the evening game would kick-off as planned.

“From 17.15 onwards, we moved the system up gear,” says Ilyas. “The vacuums increased from 60% to 80%, and both pumps continued to run on/off cycles to remove excess liquid. From 18.30, a single pump was sufficient to discharge water as the rain began to ease – this approach is used for a rainfall intensity up to 25mm/h. Even so, the two pumps would have been capable of preparing the pitch in time had conditions worsened.”

A vote of confidence

Despite an extraordinary amount of rain amid intense media speculation, officials remained confident the game would be played. In the early evening, a statement was released from UEFA, which read:

“We are closely monitoring the weather forecast and at this stage the match will go ahead as scheduled.”

This was a vote of confidence for the SISAir system as rain continued to fall while both teams warmed up. Sensor level trend data showed 2.116m3 of water flowed into the well within one minute at maximum rainfall, indicating an overall rate of 127m3 per hour and a rainfall intensity of 15.61 mm/h. These recordings are corroborated when compared with data from NASA instruments taken on the same evening.

“This figure is not unheard of but over the whole day it constitutes a severe storm,” Ilyas concludes. “Even so, we made it clear to UEFA that conditions still fell well within the system’s capabilities and the pitch would be playable. In the end, we were able to remove all excess rainwater and keep the pitch resistance-free. For some fans the final score was a disappointment, but for us this was a clear win away from home.”

Innovative systems, like SISAir, are just one part of SIS’s offering. The company also creates natural, hybrid and artificial surfaces, including running tracks, as well as ongoing maintenance of all pitches regardless of whether they were originally built by SIS.

You can read more about the SISAir here

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Turf Tank – the Premier League choice

Turf Tank – the Premier League choice: Turf Tank, the global leader in robotic line marking, is bringing the industry defining Turf Tank Two to Saltex 2023.

The Turf Tank is going from strength to strength, not only is it popular at Premier League level with 50% of Premier League Football Clubs owning a Turf Tank robot, but the number of other users has also increased dramatically. Grass roots clubs, independent and state schools, local authorities, contractors, league football/rugby/hockey and other sports are also finding the Turf Tank ideal and affordable for their clubs too.

Turf Tank – the Premier League choice

Turf Tank – the Premier League choice

Your opportunity to see the new model Turf Tank Two will be at the NEC on 1st and 2nd November, where Turf Tank is exhibiting on stand F102. Visitors can experience the next step in GPS line marking as the company that built the world’s first robotic line marker continues to innovate.

Performance and accuracy are the hallmarks of Turf Tank, and a combination of refinements, including two motor drives for better momentum and new wheels for improved grip and traction, have led to faster marking times with the Turf Tank Two.

Enhanced Sprayer Module

While the speed and accuracy of marking are paramount to efficiency, so is the usability of the Turf Tank Two. Several sprayer module upgrades have made fine-tuning simple with the twist of a knob, including disc height, width and a disc ruler for a better overview.

Tighter tolerances ensure sharper and crisp lines between 5-15cm, with the rack-and-pinion system letting you go from minimum to maximum in a single turn. The height of the sprayer discs can be easily adjusted in increments of 5mm, allowing you to approximate the correct sprayer height. Fine-grained adjustments can be made via a turning knob to get the height precisely as you want and get consistent results every mark.

To make maintenance more manageable, the module is now an independent part. It can be removed by loosening two screws, allowing easy access to specific parts, while one-hand solenoid removal has also been made possible for quicker working.

Quick Control

A new front panel provides quick pause/resume options, LED indicators to show the robot status and a start/stop sprayer button. A LED indicator on the battery has been fitted for a quick status check – if it’s plugged in or not – and batteries can now be hot-swapped without needing to shut down the robot.

Ergonomic Improvements

Numerous ergonomic improvements have been made to make working with the Turf Tank Two quicker and easier.

A tilted pump cover allows up to 20 litres of paint to be slid into the robot rather than being lifted in and out of the top. The newly designed compartment increases efficiency by ensuring the suction rod can use all the paint, and battery access has also been simplified, with only one movement needed to slide it in place.

Additionally, handles are now on the front and back to make lifting in and out of vans and buggies easier.

New Powers in the Palm of Your Hand

New in-app guides are introduced to walk you through most features, and the new Wizard guides you through the cleaning and priming process of the paint system. To quickly troubleshoot any calibration errors, a new augmented reality guided calibration routine lets you take a picture of lines and automatically fix any calibration errors.

All of these features also work in Offline Mode, which means you have the full functionality of the Turf Tank Two in cases where an internet connection can’t be established.

Remote Support

The new software also builds on Turf Tank’s leading customer service through remote access. Turf Tank staff can assist in setting up fields, diagnose problems and provide support instantly wherever you are. A new built-in help centre is also available to answer frequently asked questions and get you marking within minutes of encountering an issue.

Turf Tank’s product specialists will be on stand to answer any questions and demonstrate the advancements made with the Turf Tank Two.

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Chairman thanks league groundstaff

Chairman thanks league groundstaff: Colin White, chairman of the Dales Council League, has praised the forgotten heroes of local cricket’s response to Covid-19 this spring and summer – the groundsmen and women.

Read the full article from The Telegraph and Argus here

Chairman thanks league groundstaff

Chairman thanks league groundstaff

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Net World Sports Supply Canadian League

Net World Sports Supply Canadian League: The Canadian Premier League has announced international sports equipment retailer, Net World Sports as one of their official partners. Supplying all seven clubs with training, matchday and ground equipment, Net World Sports has signed a three-year partnership with the new league which will see the UK based ecommerce company provide football equipment to teams until 2021.

As Official Suppliers of the league Net World Sports has shipped more than 1,700 items of football equipment to Canada, including full size 24 x 8 FORZA Alu110 Freestanding Stadium Box Football Goals and revolutionary FORZA Alu110 360˚ Football Goal Wheels that were designed and tested in conjunction with Manchester United’s ground team.

Net World Sports Supply Canadian League

As well as FORZA Alu110 Football Goals, the teams have enjoyed a plethora of smaller training goals too, including the FORZA POD Aluminium Folding Goal which is perfect for matchday prepping away from home ground and the FORZA Alu Mini Target Goal to encourage pinpoint accuracy.

As part of the three-year partnership negotiated by Canadian Soccer Business (CSB) on behalf of the CPL, Net World Sports will receive first right of refusal on supplying equipment to the league and seven clubs, access to media assets, direct promotion through Canadian Premier League’s Centre Circle app and product reviews and endorsements by players.

Alex Lovén, Founder & CEO of Net World Sports comments: “We’re immensely excited to finally be able to announce our three-year partnership with the Canadian Premier League. As an Official Equipment Supplier, the partnership will offer us a great opportunity to showcase our fantastic range of quality football products to thousands of fans of the beautiful game and truly cements our position as global players within the industry.

“A partnership of this scale has been a long time coming for Net World Sports and marks a huge milestone within our company’s history. It’s completely new territory for us, but we’re all about doing the unconventional, taking risks and following our gut instincts. As soon as we were approached by Canadian Soccer Business about the possibilities of entering into a partnership, we instantly knew it was something we wanted to be a part of. This is just the start of a monumental legacy in Canada’s football history and it’s great that we’re able to share this landmark occasion with the Canadian Premier League.”

Net World Sports Supply Canadian League

Net World Sports’ partnership deal with the Canadian Premier League could not have come at a better time for the UK’s number one football goal supplier who is celebrating 10 years of business this year with the introduction of a number of ground-breaking new products across their full sporting range, including football, cricket, tennis, golf and rugby.  Since the start of 2019 alone, Net World Sports has launched six new international websites in three new territories with more currently in the works.

Founded in 2009 by Alex Lovén, Net World Sports offers a range of professional quality flagship football products at affordable prices. The only company to deliver football goals across the world within two days, Net World Sports has been manufacturing their own range of FORZA Football Goals since 2013. In the five years since, the range has grown to now include the hugely popular FORZA Pro Locking Goals, the sturdy Steel42 and premium Alu60 and Alu110 aluminium training and match goals that are FA accredited.

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Wilson Top Of The Turf League

Wilson Top Of The Turf League: Eric Wilson from Whitby Town has been named as the best groundsmen in the Northern Premier League, along with Non-League’s national runner-up at the Football Association’s 2018 Groundsmen of the Year Awards.

Pictured last season after being highly commended by the judges of the annual contest to honour Non-League’s top turf stars for his work at the Turnbull Ground, Wilson easily outstripped that this time around to collect the EVO-STIK League’s top honour and take second spot nationally at Steps 3 to 4 of the National League System behind Tonbridge Angels.

Wilson Top Of The Turf League

Like the groundsmen and women at the number one clubs in the Isthmian League, Southern League and National League, Wilson and the Seasiders are also looking forward to banking cheques for £12,500 to spend on ground maintenance from Budweiser, the new sponsor of the annual accolades.

The EVO-STIK League Premier Division club and Wilson are no strangers to honours after being named in June alongside Trafford and Loughborough Dynamo at the NPL’s end of season awards as one of the inaugural winners of the GreenFields Pitch of the Year accolades.

Matlock Town’s Richard Lomas left the FA’s St George’s Park on Thursday with plenty to shout about too, second place behind Wilson, both in the NPL and nationally. Elfyn Jones at Colwyn Bay will have an extra spring in his step around Llanelian Road as he prepares for the new season after taking third spot in the EVO-STIK League and being highly commended nationally.

Regular finalists Mick Grimmer at Stocksbridge Park Steels and Witton Albion’s Peter Robinson, along with last season’s NPL number one, Belper Town’s Phil Varney, all left the event with high commendations from the the FA’s judging panel of expert professional groundsman from the English Football League and Premier League.

The league’s representatives were honoured after a series of on-site assessments at nominated grounds last season that not only looked at the quality of the pitches but also took into consideration the skills and knowledge of the finalists, their ambitions for the pitch, the resources available, pitch use and the amount of time they were able to work on their surfaces during one of the worst winters and toughest seasons in years.

More than a 100 groundsmen from all levels of the game were rewarded for their work at this season’s ceremony in front of their peers. EVO-STIK League representative Paul Hatt, along with Brent Clayton from the NPL’s sponsors at the Frank Whittle Partnership, were also at the prestigious state-of-the-art venue near Burton to congratulate the 2018 winners.

Guests at the 17th running of the annual awards also got the chance to quiz a panel of professional groundsmen at a Q&A session and enjoy a presentation from Mark Pover, the FA’s head of facilities and investment, before lunch and the awards ceremony.

* Official pitch partners GreenFields agreed a new three year deal with the EVO-STIK League in June after honouring their inaugural Pitch of the Year winners at Blackpool’s Hilton Hotel. Appointed last summer as the NPL’s official pitch partners for the historic 2017-18 50th anniversary campaign, the sports turf specialists are looking forward to working with clubs until at least the end of the 2020-21 season.

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