Plastic Pitch Matches in the 80's

[Mr.Thunders]

As I never saw Sunderland play away at QPR,Luton or Oldham during the plastic pitch era ,and dont recall a tv match that we played,can any of the more vintage posters remember how different it was?

Was it much of an advantage to the home team?

Did teams keep it on the deck more and avoid sliding tackles?

 

[sick]

I remember high balls bouncing like they had landed on concrete and keepers wore tracksuit bottoms.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

I remember high balls bouncing like they had landed on concrete and keepers wore tracksuit bottoms.

Huge bounce.

 

[sick]

It was definitely an advantage to the home team as the others only played on them once a year.

 

[jackynutmeg]

I played at Deepdale on the plastic pitch years ago. It was as fuck and full of sand

 

[mutley]

Difficult to control the ball and weight passes correctly, bit like what we are now really.

 

[Paninaro]

As I never saw Sunderland play away at QPR,Luton or Oldham during the plastic pitch era ,and dont recall a tv match that we played,can any of the more vintage posters remember how different it was?

Was it much of an advantage to the home team?

Did teams keep it on the deck more and avoid sliding tackles?

Yep all the teams who had them all had very good home records
Seem to recall us beating Luton away though, maybe a 1-1 draw at oldham ?

 

[SpiritofBurnden]

As I never saw Sunderland play away at QPR,Luton or Oldham during the plastic pitch era ,and dont recall a tv match that we played,can any of the more vintage posters remember how different it was?

Was it much of an advantage to the home team?

Did teams keep it on the deck more and avoid sliding tackles?

QPR's was particularly appalling, it was like playing on concrete apparently.

We got beat 7-0 on it once.

I've no idea why any team was allowed to install them to start with.

 

[sick]

I played on one of the earlier pitches and my footy socks got friction burned. They got a hard plasticy bit on them where they had slid along the 'turf'. Not sure what my socks were made from, they were from the blue away kit around '85.

 

[4everredandwhite]

Not 100% certain, but wasn’t it Luton that was the first league team to have a Plastic pitch?

 

[herra soul mob]

saw sunderland at oldham couple of times and at preston. bounce was main factor and was massive advantage to home side. drew at oldham and lost one and got 2-2 draw at preston with doyle sent off, think there was a bit bother that day.

 

[SpiritofBurnden]

QPR had a decent team back then.

They qualified for the UEFA Cup but they weren't allowed to play their home ties on the plastic pitch.

They had to play at Highbury which isn't even that close to their own ground.

 

[Scunny Dan]

I think they would probably be ok nowadays, with tackling basically outlawed.

 

[herra soul mob]

there's still plastic pitches in scotland, hamilton, kilmarnock to name a few.

 

[Marseilletractor]

Not 100% certain, but wasn’t it Luton that was the first league team to have a Plastic pitch?

QPR , like a threadbare carpet

 

[PTID]

QPR in 83, got beat 3-0 , throw ins galore, that and their subbuteo ground with shit away end, made it the worst away day ever at the time

 

[MONTYMCPHAIL]

Luton used to have their home games won after 30 mins

 

[herra soul mob]

remember we bought brian mooney from preston as was meant to be a plastic pitch specialist ( for luton away game)

 

[Flea Market Trader]

I played one one of the old style plastic pitches that were covered in sand. Hated playing on it as you got a huge leg burn. I once fell over on said pitches and ruptured muscles in my leg and done my knee in. Evil things.

 

[AgnewsHorseshoe]

QPR and Luton were goo top flight teams and then neither have got close to it since they went on to grass. Massive leveller