Spotless Stadium rated by players as having worst pitch, atmosphere

They’re Australia’s poorest pitches, the sub-standard surfaces that players’ unions are concerned could be contributing to the injuries of our biggest stars. And Sydney’s stadiums are the worst offenders. SEE THE LIST

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They’re Australia’s poorest pitches, the sub-standard surfaces the players’ union is concerned could be contributing to injuries across the A-League.

And Sydney’s stadiums are the biggest offenders, with the worst ranked a lowly 1.67 out of five in Professional Footballers Australia’s stadiums rating system.

That prize goes to Spotless Stadium, Western Sydney’s unhappy temporary home where, just before kick-off last November, shards of broken plastic cups and even a metal screw were blown onto the pitch following a music festival.

Three of the four fixtures held at Spotless this season – including shardgate – received a lowest-possible mark of one out of five by team captains who rate the overall quality, hardness, pace and smoothness of playing surfaces at the conclusion of every game.

(l-r) Four A-League grounds and their pitch ratings out of five: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (2.83), Spotless Stadium, Sydney (1.67), Leichhardt Oval (2.50), Central Coast Stadium (3.10).

Along with that 1.67 season pitch score, the AFL-purposed oval venue was assessed as providing the worst atmosphere of all 16 stadiums used for the A-League with an average score of 1.33.

Intriguingly, last season Spotless was adjudged to boast the equal third-best pitch, with a ranking of 4.00 that underscored an overall better-quality standard across the board in 2017-18.

Leichhardt Oval, which braved Sunday’s torrential rain to host Sydney FC’s loss to Melbourne City, is this season’s second-worst of the lot with an average overall quality of 2.50.

The PFA has raised serious concerns about the safety and playability of pitches, and chief executive John Didulica drew attention to the ACL injury sustained by Sky Blues defender Ben Warland at Leichhardt.

“In our game, the quality of the playing surface afforded to the players is critical,” Didulica told The Daily Telegraph.

“It is impossible for any player to play to their capacity when a fundamental component of the game is compromised.

“When the pitch is compromised, there is a heightened risk of injury to players.

“The injury of Ben Warland, for example, should be scrutinised in the context of the pitch quality.”

Sydney FC’s other temporary grounds, Jubilee Stadium and the SCG, have ratings of 3.38 and 3.50 respectively.

Sydney FC defender Ben Warland did his knee at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday. Picture: Getty Images

Jubilee in particular has come under recent fire over the state of its surface, one that deteriorated so badly both an NRL trial and the Matildas’ Cup of Nations opener were forced to relocate.

It was also in a patchy, uneven state for the preceding week’s W-League grand final, however the Sky Blues have since enlisted the help of an independent pitch consultant to work with Jubilee’s groundsmen and managed to get it match-ready for the start of the men’s Asian Champions League campaign.

Campbelltown Stadium came in at 3.00, just behind Brisbane’s notoriously patchy Suncorp Stadium (2.83, down from 3.05 last season), while ANZ Stadium has a rating of 3.80 (down from 4.00).

Compare that to Mudgee’s Glen Willow Stadium, a bed of carpet that earned a perfect 5.00 when it hosted the Wanderers against Brisbane Roar in November.

Some of plastic on the pitch at Spotless Stadium in November. Picture: Getty Images

Perth’s HBF Park (4.45, up from 4.13) and Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium (4.17, up from 3.60) are the next best.

A well-documented part of the problem, particularly in Sydney, is Australia’s unique sporting landscape and the extent to which competing codes are forced to share grounds.

For example, over the past five months Spotless has played host to an average of about three games a week taking in A-League, Sydney Sevens rugby, Big Bash League cricket and the X Games.

Compare that to the Emirates in London, where Arsenal will have hosted a total 29 games between August 2018 and May 2019.

In a boost, the Wanderers’ days on the Spotless ‘carpark’ are over, with the club set to move to the redeveloped boutique Western Sydney Stadium next season.

Even then, though, they’ll encounter plenty of cross-code traffic from NRL teams Parramatta Eels and Wests Tigers and Super Rugby outfit the NSW Waratahs.