Exclusive: Millers back push for return to artificial pitches

The Millers, whose stadium is due to open at the start of next season, are one of several lower division clubs pushing for a return of non-grass pitches in the Football League.

Banned by the Football Association in 1988, they have improved significantly in quality over the years and have been used for some international and Champions League fixtures in Russia.

Wycombe Athletic and Accrington Stanley support the move which would reduce maintenance costs and increase revenue through community use.

“If the League sanctioned this tomorrow, we would seriously look at it for next season,” said Stewart. “They tick all the boxes but, before we can invest, they need to be sanctioned again by the Football League.”

Queens Park Rangers, Oldham, Luton and Preston were the four clubs that introduced artificial pitches to English football in the Eighties. A number of clubs, including Sheffield United, have pitches that combine synthetic material and grass.

“It is early days but there is certainly a move back towards artificial pitches,” said Stewart. “They can save a club money in the long term, they are tried and tested in Europe and are far better than in the Eighties, they are softer, hard-wearing, frost free, easy to drain, and good on a player’s muscles. All the old problems have been erased.”

The Millers have spent the last three years lodging at Sheffield’s Don Valley Athletics Stadium where fixtures have often fallen victim to frost because of the absence of undersoil heating.

“When a game is re-arranged for midweek, we can’t generate the same amount of money as we would on a Saturday plus there are additional costs,” Stewart said. “An artificial pitch would help remove that problem. It has to be a serious consideration for any club looking to move to a new ground.”

The Football League have not commented but the subject is likely to be on the agenda when the 72 club representatives meet again in February.

Bradford City’s joint chairman Mark Lawn admitted that his club would also consider the option should it be approved.