Subject: Pitch size

Is this a variable? i always assumed pitches must be a regulation size, but i'm watching Nigeria v SA in the worldcup qualifier, and the commentator is talking about "when you play on a pitch this size..." and saying that because of its sizr this pitch is particularly good for players to express themselves.

(Nigeria 1-0 up after 10 mins)

I believe there are max and mins for both length and width - don't know what they are, but you can Google it!

you are right. apparently the pitch length must be between 100 yards (90 metres) and 130 yards (120 metres) and the width between 50 yards (45 metres) and 100 yards (90 metres). Also the pitch is not allowed to be square.

1. Manchester City, City of Manchester Stadium, 116 x 77 yards
2. Manchester United, Old Trafford, 116 x 76 yards
3. Blackburn Rovers, Ewood Park, 115 x 76 yards
4. Everton, Goodison Park, 112 x 78 yards
5. Aston Villa, Villa Park, 114 x 75 yards
6. Middlesbrough, Riverside, 114 x 75 yard
7. Arsenal, Emirates Stadium, 114 x 74 yards
8. Derby County, Pride Park, 114 x 74 yards
9. Reading, Madjeski Stadium, 111 x 76 yards
10. Sunderland, Stadium of Light, 114 x 74 yards
11. Wigan Athletic, JJB Stadium, 114 x 74 yards
12. Portsmouth, Fratton Park, 115 x 73 yards
13. Chelsea, Stamford Bridge, 110 x 75 yards
14. Fulham, Craven Cottage, 110 x 75 yards
15. Liverpool, Anfield, 110 x 75 yards
16. Birmingham City, St. Andrews, 110 x 74 yards
17. Newcastle United, St. James’s Park, 110 x 73 yards
18. Tottenham Hotspur, White Hart Lane, 110 x 73 yards
19. Bolton Wanderers, Reebok Stadium, 110 x 72 yards
20. West Ham United, Boleyn Ground, 110 x 70 yards

(god i'm BORED)

Don't you remember a while back when Wenger accused some bobbins Euro team of cheating when they narrowed their pitch to the minimum to restrict the Arse wingplay?
(edited)

I have to say i am surprised you didn't know this, but we learn something new every day i suppose.

nah i missed that. then again the last time i was in the england for a complete season was the 2003-2004.

i like the idea the germans had there. if you kept a pitch that allowed for the maximum 100 x 130 you could then redraw the lines for each game; narrow to restrict wing-play, or really wide and long to create space against a team with a tight midfield... etc.

i am surprised you didn't know this

few who know me are suprised by the depth of my ignorance

we learn something new every day

and then forget it again 5 minutes later

(super eagles lead 2-0 at half-time)
(edited)

yeah changing the pitch every game is great in adding to the tactics of football but im not sure if i like it. really you should register at the start of the season your pitch dimensions and stick with them till the end of the season.

I'm surprised a team hasn't decided to play with say a 91 x 90 pitch - you'd have a massive tactical advantage for half of your fixtures, and would adapt ok to the away games because they'd be on pretty much standard pitch sizes (judging by the prem).

You'd think Bolton would have done it.

might have helped Derby - then again probably not!

I have a feeling that UEFA have certain pitch size regulations themselves, much more limiting that what the PL may have, which may be why so many have similiar sizes.

it makes sense, otherwise someone would surely have gone for it.

They don't tend to change them that much in the upper divisions as the pitch size is also determined by where the fans sit. If you turned up to find yourself another 10metres away from the action, would you complain?

on the flip side some fans would be 25m nearer ;)