PLASTIC PITCHES #2: 🗣️ “Playing on a good astro is better than playing on a crappy grass pitch"

In Norway, the quality of the artificial surfaces mean quality, attacking football is possible

Welcome to part II of award-winning sportswriter Stephen McGowan’s investigation series into the pros and cons of artificial surfaces.

Yesterday, Falkirk chief executive Jamie Swinney spoke passionately on the quality of Falkirk’s synthetic surface and reflected on his battle for hearts and minds.

In part II today, we consider Norway, where the climate means that 12 out of the 16 top-flight clubs play on synthetic turf, including Europa League semi-finalists Bodø/Glimt.

In tomorrow’s final part, Stephen considers the implications of Livingston’s promotion, which brings the Premiership’s number of artificial surfaces up to three.

Parts two and three are for paid subscribers.

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By Stephen McGowan

Ange Postecoglou teams had struggled on artificial pitches before. A 1-0 defeat to Livingston at Celtic’s least-favourite venue capped a fraught introduction to life in Glasgow.

Tottenham Hotspur were impressed enough by the way he overcame the early bumps and bruises to lure the Australian to London as manager. And a good deal less impressed by the way he and his players set about securing an unconvincing win on Tamworth’s 4G surface in an FA Cup scare.

By the time Postecoglou’s Spurs travelled to Norway to face Bodø/Glimt earlier this month, they knew what they were getting into.

Staging a UEFA club semi-final on an artificial surface felt like a significant step. An acceptance at the highest levels of the game that grass is no longer the be all and end all.

The plastic fantastic: Bodø/Glimt’s Aspmyra Stadium

For Kjetil Knutsen’s side, the surface is a question of necessity rather than choice. Located north of the Arctic Circle, the extreme climate conditions in the town of Bodø make it difficult and expensive to maintain natural grass. Yet the installation of an undersoil heating system makes it possible to play throughout the year — on plastic. Even in extreme conditions.