1. New small stand built seating 111, bringing total seated to 2115.

2. East Stand Bar added.

3. Existing screen being refurbished, and smaller outdoor screen being added.

4. Plan for additional new stands before new year stated by Sir Mike Gooley.

Could be a very good solution for Ealing. 

Or was that the entire 'club'?

https://bedfordrugby.co.uk/news/2023/08/summer-works-update-goldington-road" rel="nofollow - https://bedfordrugby.co.uk/news/2023/08/summer-works-update-goldington-road

This was a well written update that made me chuckle, especially the bit about sprucing up the ref room to get more decisions.

The article link above states that the replacement of the main grandstand roof  was unplanned and will now meet the new safety certificate standards. 

What was the problem ? 

It was old compared to modern building standards, but safe while intact. If it had become damaged by weather conditions etc. the safety inspection and certification would probably not have been granted until specialist removal and a new roof added. Just my thoughts!

This will bring bring seated capacity to c. 2700.

This must qualify Ealing Trailfinders for most empty seats in the league .

In the Championship maybe, but it is still well below Darlington MP.

Probably below Bristol.

Most of us could only dream of Bristol's average crowd of nearly 18500 though!

Darlington's, on the other hand...

As an update, this stand is now complete. Was a bit surprised to see that it is uncovered.

Still, good on em for getting it done.

Do you think they care?

Might be slipping around more than Ealing.

Imagine playing in blades on a muddy surface. Could be same effect with these wood chips against rubber bits.

Happily corrected 

After a quick Google it seems this reduces injuries which is good news.

I mean, do you think Ealing care?

Any advantage gained by the home side - as long as it's legal and ethical (and that's another debate for someone else) is fair game these days.

Ealing are in it to win it.... again.

Third time's the charm. Don't know if anyone outside of Ealing fans have noticed, but Ealing has added two stars to their (ugly) home kit to represent their two Championship wins.

Ok makes much more sense thanks! 

In response to the naysayers then, I presume this goes some way to reduce burn injuries which have been a common (justified) criticism of these types of pitches. Not some Machiavellian attempt at a marginal gain over opponents. 

Yeah I spotted that on the media shots. It's a nice little touch.

I quite like the new kit. Definitely looks better in person. But it's a bit of a change moving away from the hoops so I get one some don't like it.

Possibly, but I don't recall any such on Cov's 3g (happy to be corrected).

I think basic maintenance/ correct watering are the key here.

The new pitch is what they use in the NFL. The footwear restrictions were in place whilst the pitch bedding in. bit like back in the day when you bought a new carpet.

The players i spoke to like it. Its more like grass and the ball bounces as such. One of the interns is doing a dissertation on injuries on the new pitch compared to the old plastic pitch. A very useful piece of analysis IMHO

It is wood, Georgia Pine not cork and is used mainly in US at minute on Football, American Football and Rugby pitches there.

A number of benefits to rubber, more environmentally friendly in use and recycling at end of life.  A lot cooler than rubber pitches. More realistic bounce, less spin etc than rubber and no massive splash of material once it has settled in.  Better to turn on and run on, less injuries, less abrasive so hopefully will make for a better game and safer for players.

You dont need new boots for it haha, the same footwear for every 3G surface any where in the world is needed.

Interesting - I had felt some of the grains, and it definitely felt like cork to me, but I'm happy to be educated if you know definitively. I will say though that my son's mini's age group did their practice on there on Sunday, and he came off with bloody burns on both knees, something that we hadn't seen from the previous rubber pitch. That is entirely anecdotal and a sample size of one 7 year old child of course.

But it remains the best place you could ever wish to watch a match. 

That's a bit harsh Cheshire - the drainage is much improved over the last few seasons and there was still quite a lot of grass on it at the end of the season!

Hartpury ground renamed

It has a certain ring to it, even if a bit clumsy. You can't beat a bit of sponsorship. 

It should be used for drill training only. 

Interesting that you would mention this certification. I was involved in a timed evacuation audit of the 1000 seat covered East Stand at TFSC a couple weeks ago. I wonder if it was part of that process.

Just coincidental, I was recalling safety certification I was connected with, probably 15 years ago when involved with safety capacities.

Unisex toilet block at the mini fan village.

10 or 12 toilets, although has a disabled character on doors, not wheelchair friendly, but possibly other disabilities might find it suitable.

Certainly weird being in your ‘trap’ and hearing women talking in next ‘trap’ to mates inside the block.