Runcorn to install hybrid pitch

The club say they have been chosen to take part in the second phase of Sport England’s Carpet Hybrid Football Pitch pilot scheme, in conjunction with the Football Foundation, Premier League, the Football Association and Cheshire County FA.

The carpet hybrid is a sports pitch of more than 95% natural grass, grown through and intertwined with a carpet of grass fibre shoots. It has a base of sand, rootzone and gravel in various depths and layers. Hybrid pitches are now commonplace in elite-level sport such as the Premier League, with the difference being that Premier League pitches are a "stitched" hybrid with the fibres being injected into the existing surface.

It is not classed as an artificial pitch, with it looking like, being maintained like and playing like a grass pitch. The club will be provided with all the specialist equipment required to maintain and irrigate the hybrid pitch.

A similar pitch has been in place at Griffin Park, home of Brentford FC, in recent years.

It will enable the club’s academy, ladies and under 21s to play on the new pitch, as well as being used by the junior section for training sessions and also community usage.

The pitch will be ready for use in time for the start of next season.