Westminster candidates step into Falkirk FC artificial pitch row

Rival politicians have agreed that a move to ban artificial pitches being used by clubs in the Scottish Premiership would be a huge barrier to clubs like Falkirk hoping to win promotion and would also impact on community use.

The SPFL is proposing a blanket ban on artificial pitches for Premiership clubs but Falkirk Football Club has spoken out against the plan, which will be voted on by the twelve current members of the league.

Falkirk FC – along with Hamilton, Raith Rovers and Queen of the South, who also have artificial pitches – believes that the proposal is “fundamentally flawed on a number of levels and, if approved, will cause significant long-term damage to Scottish football by undermining sporting integrity, impacting the wider game and creating huge financial entry barriers to the top league”.

Two Falkirk councillors, Euan Stainbank and James Bundy – both of whom are hoping to win the Falkirk seat in the forthcoming general election – are backing the club.

Labour councillor and Falkirk fan, Euan Stainbank, agrees with the club and its fans that the proposal would be an unfair barrier to clubs with aspirations of top-flight football.

He said: “Falkirk only replaced their pitch last year with government funding – it is a pristine surface that I’ve had the pleasure of watching my local team storm to the league title playing on this season gone.

“As a Falkirk fan I have a long enough memory to remember many a winter Saturday spent kicking a ball against a wall at home because the then grass pitch couldn’t deal with the snow and the frost.

“What is really the threat to the game: an artificial pitch used across the Scottish game for years at every tier of football or community clubs like Falkirk being forced to fork out millions to dig up a brand-new pitch?”

The proposal brings back sore memories for fans of when Falkirk were denied the chance for promotion as they did not have a 10,000 seater stadium.

Mr Stainbank believes the proposal will also have a profound effect on Falkirk FC’s community work and he has now written to the Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport, Maree Todd, and to Neil Doncaster, chief executive of the SPFL.

He added: “I support the position articulated by Falkirk FC as well as several clubs in the lower tiers opposing the ban on artificial pitches and call on all Premiership clubs to vote against this proposal.”

Councillor James Bundy – the Conservative candidate for Falkirk – has also written to the Scottish Government minister and to the SPFL.

He is also concerned that the huge cost to the club would have a big impact on the club’s community activities.

In his letter to Marie Todd, he said: “Ripping out the artificial pitch would likely end the communities use of the pitch also.

“Maintaining a grass surface can be difficult, as we have seen with Dundee FC this season. That is why I fear that if pitches were to become grass, then use of these facilities would be limited.

“This would have a detrimental effect on the togetherness football currently brings communities.”

The SNP candidate for Falkirk, Toni Guigliano, says he believes the proposal would be unfair and “hike operating costs” for clubs.

“Artificial surfaces are used at the highest level of the game and are superior to sub-standard or even average grass pitches.

“A ban would also have a damaging impact on the club’s ability to act as a substantial community hub allowing our young people interested in football to thrive and be competitive.”

Mr Guigliano has also promised to raise the issue with the SPFL and Government ministers.