After a football match the pitch often shows signs of wear and tear. The combination of intense foot traffic, sudden weather changes and competitive play can leave the turf struggling to bounce back. For grounds teams restoring the pitch to great condition is essential, not only to ensure that it’s ready for the next match but also to maintain the health of the grass for the long term. One key element of this restoration process is clearing up with a rotary mower. Using tools like the Allett Uplift Petrol and Battery Rotary Mowers can make a significant difference in debris collection and turf recovery.
Why Turf Recovery is Crucial After Every Match
A professional football pitch takes a beating during each match. The constant running, sliding and tackling stresses the grass and breaks the grass blades. This puts additional strain on the turf making recovery vital. A football pitch can lose up to 30% of its grass coverage during a single match, especially in high-contact areas like the penalty box or around the goalposts. This deterioration is caused by foot traffic, player movements and sliding tackles. This highlights the importance of recovery to maintain a healthy playing surface.
Rotary mowing after a match helps the turf recover by removing debris and dead grass. When players collide with the ground or the ball is kicked across the pitch small clippings, soil and debris from players boots can accumulate on the surface. If left unchecked these can stifle the grass’s ability to receive sunlight and nutrients, hindering recovery.
Enter the Uplift Rotary Mowers
Allett's Uplift Rotary Mowers are designed to not only cut the grass but also to lift and collect debris-in fact that is exactly what they were designed for.. Their advanced technology provides several key benefits for groundsmen and women working on football pitches; one of which being efficient debris collection.
The Uplift's moulded deck offers optimised air flow which makes suction levels extremely strong lifting loose grass, fallen leaves and compacted soil before cutting the grass. The grass bag ensures it’s collected and removed from the pitch. This process reduces thatch build-up and ensures a clean pitch post-match.
According to research from the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI), the use of rotary mowers significantly speeds up turf recovery by removing debris and thatch, which can hinder regrowth. It’s estimated that rotary mowing after a game can reduce the recovery time of the turf by up to 20% allowing the pitch to bounce back faster and stay in top condition for subsequent matches.
Allett have a petrol and battery powered option for clubs and you can book a demo here.
Find out more information on the Uplift 86 Petrol here
Find out more information on the Uplift 86E Electric here