Opinion: Time to ditch artificial pitches in the Scottish Premiership

Artificial pitches have no place in the top flight or Scottish football, argues Just an Ordinary Bhoy...

20th August 2023; Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, Scotland: Scottish Viaplay Cup Football, Kilmarnock versus Celtic;

Celtic will take on Kilmarnock at Rugby Park tomorrow on that awful plastic pitch, one of two in the Scottish Premiership. Killie along with Livingston are the only sides in the top flight to have them and it’s a disgrace that professional footballers have to ply their trade on such surfaces.

Killie at least have made plans to ditch it and are reverting back to grass for the 2025/26 season after introducing the surface back in 2014. Livingston however have no such plans and plan to keep the awful surface for the foreseeable. Apparently it’s a financial issue, but you see lower league sides with decent grass pitches so that doesn’t make sense.

20th August 2023; Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, Scotland: Scottish Viaplay Cup Football, Kilmarnock versus Celtic; Will Dennis of Kilmarnock tries to pull back Kyogo Furuhashi of Celtic

It’s also meant to be an all weather pitch, but has just recently seen call offs due to the elements! No wonder folk want to see Livi relegated to the championship.

It’s horrendous especially if you want to see decent football. It’s also an injury hazard to players. It’s not ideal and the SPFL should show some initiative and ban them from the top flight.

Brendan Rodgers along with a few other top flight bosses have spoken of their displeasure of the dire surface. The managers don’t want them, the players don’t want them, and the supporters don’t want them. It’s now time to act and bin them for good.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

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About Author

An ordinary everyday Celtic supporters hailing and still residing in Govan in the shadows of the enemy. I’m a season ticket holder. I Witnessed my first Celtic game in 1988 and have attended when I can ever since. Growing up in the 90s I witnessed Celtic at their lowest, and now appreciate the historic success we enjoy today. I enjoy writing about this wonderful football club and hopefully will continue to do so. I’ve always been a keen writer and initially started this a hobby. My ambition is to one day become as good an author as my fellow Celtic Star colleagues.

1 Comment

  1. Livi played on grass when they won the championship the last time they were promoted then changed to plastic. To quote Michael Caine “not a lot of people know that”.