Work is now well under way to create a state of the art Desso Grassmaster pitch at the former Olympic Stadium ready for West Ham’s move this August. Stadium owners E20 Stadium LLP are investing around £1 million to install the latest Desso Grassmaster sports pitch surface.
Desso GrassMaster is a mix of artificial and natural grass and is regarded as the top choice for Premier League and Championship football clubs.
The artificial grass fibres are injected 20 centimetres deep, and cover about 5% of the surface. While the grass is growing, the roots intertwine with the artificial fibres. The designers claim this anchors the field to create a solid, even structure with good drainage and ‘playing comfort’.
West Ham have been using Desso Grassmaster pitches at the Boleyn Ground since 2002.
The pictures below also show new Claret seating paid for by the club in the shape of the original Olympic Shard pattern which have recently been installed at the former Olympic Stadium .
If I have a concern about the OS, it is that during hte season, between WHU home games, it might get hired out for other sporting events…might?…probably will?…and that this might affect the pitch…possibly quite badly…Anyone in the know got any answers?
My other concern is that I would like to see a huge honouring of Billy Bonds at the OS. I understand that we only have naming rights for 2 ends, and they have been taken with Moore + Trev (although personally I would prefer Bonds over Trev), but Bonds’s never-say-die, to me, represents the real spirit of WHU. We should have a massive statue as if to say (especially to the opposition) “If you are coming in here, you’ve got to get past me, and everything I stand for”…and NOT the naming of some lounge or broom cupboard!
The pitch is the best of its kind and will look superb and the claret seats with give it the finishing touch to make it look like home.i remember D Gold saying the pitch is exclusively ours for football with events arranged around the season, so it won’t be used by others, but just in case you weren’t aware did you know that we use upton park as our training ground as our new facility isn’t ready, and I can’t see a quagmire of mud like the 1970’s pitches it still looks lush. As for the statue how can anyone choose Bonds over Brooking , Trevor is mr west ham and a proper ambassador, put to the fans TREV would win hands down in a vote so it’s outrageous to suggest a change. And I don’t think I ever saw Trevor Brooking run along the west side stick his 2 fingers up to the west ham fans and tell us to **** off !,
Thx for that. V relieved to hear what DG said about the pitch, as I watched the Reading game last night and the pitch was terrible…and they share it with rugby.
Bonds v Trev: Ah, there you go, that’s football for you; Different opinions! I loved Trev too, of course, but it’s Bonds for me all the way. Of course, I would prefer not to have to make that choice and have a stand named after Bonds AS WELL!
So you remember Bonds doing that? What I remember was Willie Donachie taking Bonds out in no uncertain terms by the Chicken Run, Northbank end, and as the ref pulled out his Yellow card, bonds jumped up and forcefully said ‘leave it out ref’. Or the time when that cynical little prat, Bremner did the same to Bonds in the centre circle, and Bonds jumped up and went for him, and instead of musling up (Bremner would have stood no chance!), Bonds waltzed him round the pitch, much to the amazement and delight of all, and especially Bremner himself.
Bonds was/is actually a real gent; I’m surprised at what you say. That is the 1st I have ever heard or seen of Bonds having a go at WHU supporters. And if true, it must have been a 1 off; it certainly doesn’t really bother me actually, as sometimes the supporters are right ****s, I’m afraid. I’m still trying to find that hole to jump into (in sheer embarrassment) after they booed Scott Parker! But, let’s face it, criticism is 1 way traffic, isn’t it? Fans can put the boot in on players but not vice versa….