Newcastle To "Re-Develop" St James' Park Pitch

By Matthew Jones
May 22 2004

Following Sir Bobby Robson's complaints about the pitch at St James' Park, claiming that the surface was cutting up, Newcastle United will be redeveloping the playing-field.

The whole surface will be relaid, and the whole undersoil heating system will be replaced.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger also complained about the pitch when his side visited the Magpies' in the league this season.  He claimed that his side were unable to score.  The game ended goalless, and according to Wenger, the state of the pitch was the reason as to why his side failed to convert their chances.

He told Sky Sports at the time: "It was a solid performance on a difficult pitch to play on."

When Robson raised concerns in March over the pitch, he was told that it would not be replaced.

Now though, the old surface has been ripped up and £500,000 will be spent on the new pitch which will be in place for this summer's friendly tournament on 31 July.

Facilities manager Eddie Rutherford said:

"We hope to have 90 per cent of the work done by the time the tournament comes round.

"This is a complete redevelopment of the pitch and we are not just talking about taking off the top soil as the whole undersoil heating system is being replaced.

"As a result, we are not anticipating any drainage problems at all, whatever the winter may throw at us."

The tournament involves Rangers, Feyenoord and Sporting Lisbon.