Heated cover used to stop football pitch freezing

4 days ago 1

A heated covering has been loaned to Luton Town Football Club to allow its televised Saturday fixture with local rivals Stevenage to go ahead.

The equipment has been borrowed from the English Football League (EFL) and comes after its game at Doncaster Rovers on Sunday was postponed due to a frozen pitch at the Eco-Power Stadium.

Stevenage's home game on Sunday against Leighton Orient was also called off due to the weather.

The cover works by circulating heated air beneath it to prevent the pitch from freezing, and will be in place until Saturday morning, ahead of the Sky Bet League One game at 12:30 GMT, a club spokesman said.

Aerial view of a football stadium with a protective cover, resembling a huge white tent, over the playing surface. There are four stands surrounding the pitch. The word "city" can be seen on one of the stands, which has red seats, and there are houses and a large cathedral in the background.

It has been in place since Monday evening.

An EFL spokesperson said that in order to "safeguard" earlier televised kick-offs between November and March, a pitch cover was loaned to clubs to "protect against waterlogging and frozen pitches".

They added: "In consultation with EFL and host club a decision to activate callout based upon weather forecast, pitch history, conditions, shaded areas, likely temperatures, wind chill is made between all parties."

It was also used to ensure Lincoln City's 5-2 home win against Peterborough went ahead.

The Met Office - the UK's national weather service - has issued a yellow warning for heavy snow for parts of the East of England from Thursday evening until midday on Friday.

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