The Scottish winter brings with it many certainties. Dark mornings, dark nights, rain, hail, sleet, snow and debates about summer football and artificial pitches.
Rangers defender Rob Kiernan was the latest to weigh into the pitch battle over whether plastic surfaces should be allowed at the top of our game, coming out firmly in favour of grass.
Hamilton though have had an artificial pitch for years now, with a new and improved surface utilising the latest technology laid last summer.
Manager Martin Canning wouldn’t have it any other way, and cites the difference between their own surface and the bare expanses present at other grounds as the main reason why pitches like their own are the ones offering a truly level playing field.
“I think ours is a great pitch and we enjoy playing on it,” he said.
“You know what you’re getting every week when you play on it unlike some grass pitches at this time of the season that are rutted and you can’t get any quality of football.
“You should always be able to get decent game on our pitch, regardless if it’s the middle of the summer or the winter. The pitch will always be the same and it should always play the same.
“Any team coming here know that it’ll be a decent game of football, whereas if you go away to some grass pitches at this time of the season you pretty much know that there won’t be much football played. It’s going to be a battle and the ball is going to be going long. People don’t want to try to play because if it’s a rutted pitch you could make a mistake and cost your side a goal."
“If you’re going to a grass pitch that’s not in great condition it can influence your approach to it. Instead of splitting the centre-backs and playing out from the back, you might have to just turn it forward and play off second balls.
“With our pitch you know every week that you’re going to be able to at least try to play an honest game of football and make it a decent spectacle.”
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