Pitch perfect surface prepared for promotion

With December and January's wet weather behind us, the Tameside Stadium is getting ready to host the promotion pushes of both Curzon Ashton and FC United of Manchester in the EVO-STIK Northern Premier League thanks to a revolutionary piece of equipment.

Head groundsman Nick Wild and his turf team are pictured using a 'drill and fill' machine which injects kiln dried sand into the problem areas of the pitch as part of a major mid-season renovation.

The Nash successfully used the technique last season during one of the wettest winters on record and after losing three fixtures so far this season to waterlogged pitches, they are now confident that both clubs will not lose anymore matches over the business end of the campaign.

Wild, who had originally been hoping to complete the work before Christmas, said: "It’s a technique we used with great success last season and we're very hopeful that we will not lose anymore matches due to a waterlogged pitch.

"We have a run of seven games in twenty one days coming up so it will really test the pitch but with the work we have undertaken it should hold up pretty well."

Follow us: @evostikleague on Twitter | The NPL group on Facebook by clicking here: www.facebook.com/groups/TheNPL/