St Mirren chairman Stewart Gilmour criticises Aberdeen pitch

By Heather DewarBBC Scotland

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments15

Aberdeen v St Mirren

St Mirren chairman Stewart Gilmour has told BBC Scotland his club are extremely disappointed with the state of the pitch at Pittodrie on Saturday.

on the surface, which three days earlier.

Gilmour feels the surface made it difficult for both teams to perform.

Aberdeen say they are doing everything they can to maintain the pitch and have had the elements against them.

And the Dons intend to have work done on the surface during the close season.

Since the pitch was re-laid in 2004, Aberdeen have not had a game postponed as a result of having an unplayable surface.

The Scottish Premier League were unwilling to comment on the matter until the match delegate's report is out, which is expected on Tuesday.

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15 comments

  • This from the man who didn't even consult his own fans on the tin pot stadium he built to replace the great Love Street.

  • Some SPL clubs should install artificial pitches.

    You can't play good passing football on the rutted fields we often see in Scotland. People blame the weather, but why is anyone surprised when Aberdeen experiences sub-zero temperatures during the winter? It's the same every year.

    Artificial pitches are the way forward if we want to see passing football in the SPL.

  • It's not the worst pitch in the SPL.

  • Maybe the Dons' ground staff should visit Motherwell. With their 'micro climate' I believe they managed to get a dozen blades of grass this season!

    Joey you're correct that the new stadium does not have the same character as Love Street but all we could get was an SPL compliant stadium for £x.

  • @8

    Just going on the word of some St Mirren fans I know. They said there was no consultation with fans on stadium design. Needs must and it is better to have a debt free football team in these times. I did enjoy going to Love Street, it had character. Being stuck behind the goal in the new ground is no fun, it does have a bit of a tin pot feeling about it.

  • @SouthStandShihad ask your chairman not to arrange rugby matches on it? :)

  • Almost as dreadful as the football team

  • As a dons fan at the game on Saturday, the pitch was indeed dreadful. None of the players knew how the ball was going to bounce which I am sure led to some pretty poor football. However, knowing nothing about horticulture not really sure what we can do about it

  • @Joey. Hmmm this would be the same 'Unconsulted fans' who lobbied the local council and their MP's on the club's behalf to issue the planning approval for the new stadium? might want to check your facts first, or better still nip up to Pit-todrie with a bit of turf

  • Much as I loved Love Street it was falling apart and costing a fortune to 'maintain'. Selling Love Street building Greenhilll Road to replace it saved the club financially in the medium term. The new ground has never been sold out at full capacity. SG got us debt free, a new stadium which we own, new training ground and finishing higher in SPL than we have for 25 years and you slag him off!

  • Joey: clubs usually just go to stadium builders like Barr Construction and look at some of their designs and choose one which fits their budget and requirements. Leaving Love Street and going to Greenhill Road was always about wiping out debt levels which could never be repaid and was never about aesthetics. I like the new ground as you get a good view of the pitch & you feel close to the action.

  • jackjack...

    ...funniest thing I've read all year. Please tell me your having a laugh?
    If you actually think we'll be watching Aberdeen play in a new stadium soon then think again...You've just been Topper Greenjizzed...how did it feel?

  • @ K Smith: Gilmour cosying up to Rangers in the summer = voting against them getting a place back in the SPL along with 9 other SPL chairmen.

    He is entitled to give his view on the condition of a pitch in a match involving his own team = minding his own business. St Mirren have won awards for their pitch = maybe Aberdeen should seek his advice?

  • Not much you can do about snow and frost and having to keep the undersoil heating on all the time......then again, having 30 oafs play rugby on it in November was lunacy. Gilmour should mind his own business and explain why he tried to cosy up to what was Rangers FC in the summer. Now that WAS a disgrace....

  • Aberdeen shouldn't bother becoz they r movin to a new stadium so its just a waste

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