Portsmouth set for crucial ‘£1m-plus’ Fratton Park pitch investment amid Ipswich Town postponements
The pitch at Fratton Park has come under the spotlight in recent weeks after two separate postponements due to the weather against Ipswich Town.
Andy Cullen has revealed a figure of ‘£1m-plus’ will be spent installing a new pitch at Fratton Park this summer.
But the chief executive has explained why the Blues will opt against adding undersoil heating at PO4, despite January’s game against Ipswich Town being deemed unplayable due to freezing temperatures.
The pitch at PO4 has come under the spotlight in recent weeks, after the weather caused two separate postponements against the high-flying Tractor Boys.
Weather forces postponement of Ipswich Town contests at Fratton
It was the first time in 13 years that a game on the south coast had fallen foul to the weather - and the first since February 2012 which was affected by freezing temperatures.
To make matters worse, the rearranged contest with the Tractor Boys was postponed yet again just a month later, this time due to waterlogging after persistent rainfall, which battered the English coast.
Cullen revealed at the time Portsmouth had experienced double the amount of rainfall in January and despite best efforts by ground staff to get the game on, the pitch was once again deemed unplayable.
Indeed, the Blues CEO has since revealed plans for a ‘£1m-plus’ upgrade on the Fratton Park pitch this summer, which had already been agreed with owners Tornante before the recent postponements.
Despite questions over the decision not to include undersoil heating as part of the revamp at the end of the season, Cullen explained the cost outweighs the current demand.
Fratton Park pitch set for £1m-plus summer investment
Speaking at the Tony Goodall Fan’s Conference, Cullen said: ‘Prior to the Ipswich postponement, the owners had already agreed to invest in a new pitch this summer. This is great news.
‘It also means that Pompey Women can play the majority of their games here next season as well, which will provide the impetus to accelerate interest and support for the women’s team.
‘Undersoil heating, which would cost roughly £700,000 extra on top of over the £1m-plus outlay on the pitch, is not planned at this stage, but we’ve only needed it once in the last 16 years – the recent Ipswich game.
‘Any new pitch going in wouldn’t have saved the second Ipswich postponement. We had the best part of 220mm of rain in January, compared to 95mm of rain in an average January.
‘For the Ipswich postponement, we took an early decision mid-morning on the day of the match to help travelling supporters, before their coaches left Portman Road, not to mention the large number of home fans who are travelling distances to support Pompey.’
A new date to face Ipswich Town is yet to be announced by either club, after the two Fratton postponements in recent months.
Seven of the Blues’ remaining 13 matches in the Championship this season are set to be played at PO4 between now and May 4 - including the rearranged contest against the Tractor Boys.