Perfecting the pitch: The science behind matchday magic
Star signings dominate headlines and TV rights are the hot boardroom topic, but a club’s most valuable asset could be the grass underfoot. Small and medium-sized enterprises are helping clubs to create the surfaces that allow their players to shine.
Introduction
A mixture of factors has made football the global phenomenon it is today. Talented players, dedicated fans, extensive media coverage and state-of-the-art stadiums are all critical to the game’s appeal. But there’s one vital, ever-present element that’s usually overlooked: the pitch.
The pitch can influence the whole dynamic of a match. It can even dictate whether a game goes ahead or not, with the outcome having huge financial implications. The professionalism in pitch management has massively contributed to the evolution of modern football: the high technical level of today’s game is only possible with a perfect pitch that allows the ball to roll quickly and precisely.
But managing the pitch is a complex craft, with several factors for groundskeepers to consider in order to sustain high-quality playing conditions. Premier and grassroots clubs alike rely on support from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to keep their groundskeeping team resourced and their pitches in the best condition.
The beautiful game demands beautiful surfaces
Pitch management has a considerable impact on playability and speed of attack, giving the world’s most talented players an opportunity to shine. This is critical, because matchday stars demand significant investment. The most expensive signing in the 2024 transfer window – Julián Álvarez, who moved from Manchester City to Atlético Madrid – was worth £81.5m.1
The possibility of injury also poses a risk to these investments, with lengthy periods of expensive rehabilitation and unavailability for match play. Here, too, the pitch can be a major contributor: one study found that 91% of players believe the type or condition of the pitch significantly affects injury risk.2 But clubs don’t always listen to players’ concerns.
Christian Theil, chief executive officer of turfcoach, a software pitch management solutions company, comments: “Clubs track various player metrics, from their health to how much they sleep. But the pitch, which is a risk factor for anyone on the field, doesn’t get the same attention.”
Clubs also strive to avoid match postponements. These are often down to poor weather, but quality of pitch infrastructure can make a huge difference, says Luke Edwards, chief innovation officer at SIS Pitches, a pitch design, manufacturing, installation and maintenance company.
The company’s SIS Air system can drain and aerate the rootzone, controlling moisture and gases to benefit the health of the plant but also quickly draining pitches, if required, by pulling the water down through the pitch profile.
“There was one instance where this prevented the cancellation of a Champions League game after a heavy storm,” says Edwards. “If that match had been postponed, it would have caused huge complications for the club – likely a financial penalty, too.”
Clubs track various player metrics, from their health to how much they sleep. But the pitch, which is a risk factor for anyone on the field, doesn’t get the same attention.
CEO, turfcoach
Pitch-perfect data
It’s not just pitch infrastructure that’s improving. Data solutions allow grounds teams to anticipate issues such as drainage problems, grass wear and disease before they escalate.
From a cost-efficiency perspective, optimising pitch maintenance can be highly beneficial, says Mark Trübenbacher, chief executive officer at Playgreen BV, whose subsidiary SGL is a developer of cutting-edge turfgrass-management technology. “Data can ensure you don’t use more resources, water and chemicals than you need to maintain the pitch,” says Trübenbacher. “And if you can maintain it, rather than [having to] replace it – that obviously saves money and resources, too.”
In the past decade, this shift has transformed the role of the groundskeeper, says Frank van Beusekom, SGL’s chief commercial officer. “Twenty years ago, a groundskeeper would walk on the pitch, look up at the sky and feel the air, so to speak," says van Beusekom. “Now, their decisions are guided by data.”
But adopting these tools isn’t always straightforward. “Some ground staff may question the new tech at first,” says Theil. “They fear it’s going to take their jobs or think we’re implying they’ve been doing things wrong. But we’re not replacing them. We’re creating intuitive tools that support and empower them. Conversely, players and coaches are not used to giving feedback on the pitch. By building the bridge between these departments, we seek to make the turf part of the winning formula.”
Twenty years ago, a groundskeeper would walk on the pitch, look up at the sky and feel the air, so to speak. Now, their decisions are guided by data.
Chief commercial officer, SGL
New geographies, new ground rules
As football expands into new territories, diverse climates and conditions bring fresh challenges to the people charged with pitch maintenance. Sometimes, those conditions can be completely artificial: Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena, which hosted its first professional football match in 2024, is entirely indoors.
SIS Pitches was responsible for the pitch build and maintenance. “There’s no natural light, no airflow,” says Edwards. “Everything has to be artificially maintained, which theoretically shouldn’t be possible. But we designed a complete system to grow and maintain the pitch, including lighting, irrigation and mowing in a fully enclosed environment.”
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico, will stretch pitch management strategies even further. Between the 16 host cities, average June temperatures range from 16.4°C to 32.9°C.3,4 “From Vancouver to the south of Mexico, you’ve got so many different climates,” says van Beusekom. “You’re growing grass in very different conditions, which is going to be a real challenge.”
In countries where the football industry is still expanding, pitch expertise will be limited. SMEs can help to bridge that gap. “It’s our job to support these clubs, putting people on the ground or working with them to share knowledge and upskill,” says Edwards. “We have many cases where, following construction and installation of a pitch, we’ve provided ongoing maintenance teams to manage our customer’s surface through a season or tournament.”
Tending the grassroots
Amateur clubs may lack the funds that are available to professional teams, but their pitches are still vital. Thankfully, with the right approach, SMEs can offer them scalable, cost-effective solutions.
“Ultimately, clubs need to know: how much did it rain yesterday? Which tests can I run to identify pitch issues? Is there disease?” says Theil. “But even on a limited budget, AI and software can offer simple, user-friendly solutions.”
SME partners can also adapt installation to suit different price points. SIS Pitches offers the option to stitch only high-traffic areas of the pitch if clubs can’t afford to install a hybrid system across the whole field. “It’s about understanding each club’s needs and usage profile, then guiding them and designing the right system,” says Edwards. “There’s no one-size-fits-all.”
Ultimately, clubs need to know: how much did it rain yesterday? Which tests can I run to identify pitch issues? Is there disease? But even on a limited budget, AI and software can offer simple, user-friendly solutions.
CEO, turfcoach
The best pitches go unnoticed
With SMEs pushing innovation, from data-driven diagnostics to new systems for climate-controlled stadiums, clubs at every level can benefit from better surfaces. But every environment, club and usage pattern is different, which makes a data-driven tailored approach critical.
Ultimately, the best pitches are the ones you don’t notice. When pitch management grabs headlines, it’s usually for the wrong reasons: match cancellations, injuries or poor playing conditions. The perfect pitch flies under the radar, quietly doing its job of keeping the game flowing and its players safe.
The business of football
Football isn’t just about what happens on matchday. These in-depth reads and success stories explain how technology, data analytics and commercial innovation are reshaping the sport behind the scenes.
The Champions League winner championing sport’s SMEs
He won it all on the pitch, and now the legendary midfielder Andrés Iniesta is demonstrating how football’s dynamism and sense of community can drive business success.
Player of the match: Why football clubs view SMEs as their new star players
Everyone knows that football is big business. Now clubs are starting to recognise that smaller businesses can play their part in its success.
Breaking into the big league: How SMEs can score with football clubs
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Why global football is going local
You might expect growing football clubs to be looking to partner with the biggest businesses they can find, but partnerships with local businesses also offer valuable benefits for both parties.
A greener pitch: Can football clubs clean up their act?
The beautiful game has a dirty secret: it produces as much CO2 as some entire countries. Fans are clear that they want that to change, and clubs are responding by finding innovative ways to reduce their environmental impact.
A numbers game? How data science is changing football scouting
Football clubs are turning to data and analytics to improve the way they recruit players. And small businesses are stepping into the big leagues to give these clubs the specialist support they need.
Levelling the pitch: How SMEs are targeting women football fans
For decades, marketers saw football through a male-dominated lens, but a new wave of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is tapping into growing interest in the women’s game.
Playing to the crowd: Why football clubs are investing in the stadium experience
TV brings in the cash, but live crowds are the lifeblood of the football industry. How can small and medium-sized businesses help clubs enhance the matchday fan experience?
Grassroots heroes: The SMEs powering football from the ground up
Amateur clubs are both an important source of talent for professional football clubs and vital community hubs. But the majority are run by volunteers and the workload is heavy. Can digital tools ease the administrative burden of this crucial part of the beautiful game?
Delivering to order: How SMEs are benefiting from logistics partnerships
The more complex global trade becomes, the more pressure falls on small and medium-sized businesses to deliver faster, more cost-effective and smarter services. Strategic logistics partners can help.
The Champions League winner championing sport’s SMEs
Player of the match: Why football clubs view SMEs as their new star players
Breaking into the big league: How SMEs can score with football clubs
Why global football is going local
A greener pitch: Can football clubs clean up their act?
A numbers game? How data science is changing football scouting
Levelling the pitch: How SMEs are targeting women football fans
Playing to the crowd: Why football clubs are investing in the stadium experience
Grassroots heroes: The SMEs powering football from the ground up
Delivering to order: How SMEs are benefiting from logistics partnerships
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