Derby County signs multi-million pound deal for six SISGRASS pitches

Derby County is set to install a part artificial pitch in its home ground - the same surface that will be used for the 2018 World Cup final.

The Championship team has signed a multi-million pound deal with Cumbria-based Sis Pitches to install six SISGRASS pitches at its iPro Stadium and Moor Farm training facility.

Paul Clement, the former Derby County head coach, recommended the pitch to the club's board after testing the surface at St George's Park - England's National Football Centre in Burton-on-Trent.

"This kind of pitch allows us to play the football style we want and has a very even roll and bounce. It has the 'give' we are looking for and meets all of our requirements," said Clement, who left his post yesterday (8 February).

Derby will wait to install the pitch until the end of the 2015/16 season, although work on the training facilities are scheduled to start in the spring.

SISGRASS is reinforced natural grass which is made up of 95 per cent natural turf injected by synthetic yarn which acts as the "anchor point for the natural grass root". For this project more than 150 miles of synthetic yarn will be injected into the pitches.

The surface will be used at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow for the 2018 World Cup final - the first time the showpiece game will be played on anything but 100 per cent natural turf.

John Vicars, chief operating officer for Derby County FC said: "We want the best quality surfaces right the way across the club and in SISGRASS we have chosen what we believe to be the highest level of innovative reinforced natural turf.

"The club trialled the SISGRASS pitches recently at St George's Park and the quality was particularly impressive. The coaching staff and players felt comfortable on it and that is extremely important for us."

For the original article, visit www.sportsmanagement.co.uk.