Gillingham FC already beginning preparation for next season as pitch is relaid
Work has begun this morning on preparing the turf at MEMS Priestfield Stadium for the start of the 2014/15 Sky Bet League One Season.Head Groundsman Tony Provan and Assistant Jay Berkhauer will be overseeing three days of intense work at the stadium as the pitch is completely relaid.
The ground staff have ensured all games have gone ahead as scheduled this season, but Tony believes now is the right time to have the work done as it gives him and his team more time to thoroughly prepare the surface.
Speaking to the club's official website he said: "Basically what they are doing is removing the top 35mm of the pitch which has been like a sponge all season during the wet months and has been retaining a lot of water.
"The plan is to get rid of the top of the surface so we can integrate the sand which will be put on with the new grass seed, so when it does rain we can deal with it and it can just drain through in to our existing drainage system.
"The structure of the pitch when I came in wasn't really good enough - there was no root and it was too bobbly and divots were coming out everywhere.
"As soon as the guys are done we will get the water on it and see where we go from there."