gullane Posted February 21, 2010 Report Share Posted February 21, 2010 Driving home from the Hibs match, a gardening enthusiast from the Borders came on the phone in to discuss the Fir Park pitch. He suggested the only proper way to guard against frost was to build protection a few feet above the ground. That's why so many gardeners grow their plants under cloches - mini greenhouses. His question was - why don't football clubs invest in covers that sit a few feet off the ground. They would retain a minimum amount of warm air and prevent the grass from dying. This jogged my memory back to the 70s. Does anyone else remember Leiceter City putting up a giant balloon over their pitch? They pumped in hot air between the pitch and the balloon to create a roof 12-15 feet off the ground. The players even trained under it. I'm no gardener but even I can see how a layer of warm air above the ground would prevent the grass from dying. I'm sure I didn't just imagine this. Does anyone know more? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Posted February 21, 2010 Report Share Posted February 21, 2010 We've had balloon type things in the past, including last year and the year the park was actually shut down for a month and still had problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patons02 Posted February 21, 2010 Report Share Posted February 21, 2010 Would it not work even if it was a flat cover just suspended a few feet off the ground? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gullane Posted February 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2010 Just found this - Leiceter City I know Motherwell have used covers before. But have they tried a baloon like this? One thing's for sure - the undersoil heating doesn't work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanr Posted February 21, 2010 Report Share Posted February 21, 2010 Is that not the thing that did this to Wigan's pitch a couple of years ago? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Posted February 21, 2010 Report Share Posted February 21, 2010 Just found this - Leiceter City I know Motherwell have used covers before. But have they tried a baloon like this? One thing's for sure - the undersoil heating doesn't work. Yes, remember the team training under it in during McGhee's first year I believe. I'd say the USH does work, compared with other years we've had very few call offs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
controversial Posted February 21, 2010 Report Share Posted February 21, 2010 We could use tractors like this... ... as opposed to big giant f*ck off ones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjw Posted February 21, 2010 Report Share Posted February 21, 2010 I heard a bit of that call and my first thought was who the hell gave chick young his own phone in show,the man is a balloon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PettyWulliegrew Posted February 21, 2010 Report Share Posted February 21, 2010 We've had balloon type things in the past, including last year He went to Brighton and now is at Hibs ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonesy Posted February 21, 2010 Report Share Posted February 21, 2010 I heard a bit of that call and my first thought was who the hell gave chick young his own phone in show,the man is a balloon It's Jim Traynor's phone in usually. Chic stands in whenever he's not there. Lesser of two evils I'd say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodge Posted February 21, 2010 Report Share Posted February 21, 2010 I know Motherwell have used covers before. But have they tried a baloon like this? Yes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special aka Posted February 21, 2010 Report Share Posted February 21, 2010 Summer football is the answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biggayal0 Posted February 22, 2010 Report Share Posted February 22, 2010 We could use tractors like this... ... as opposed to big giant f*ck off ones top class, are you sure our ground staff could work this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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