GROUNDSMEN are laying hi-tech material to help Huddersfield’s sports stars perform all year round.
Staff at the Galpharm Stadium began installing the synthetic fibres over the weekend as part of the £750,000 pitch relaying project.
Five groundsmen will work with two hi-tech machines over the next 10 days to strengthen the grass used by Town and the Giants.
Galpharm operations manager Phil Armitage explained how the Desso Grassmaster system works: “The two machines look like carpet-weaving machines.
“They put the plastic into the ground and then the roots of the grass wrap around it.”
The synthetic grass will help the Galpharm pitch host football and rugby games for years to come.
Mr Armitage said: “The grass takes a lot more wear, meaning it’s much more resilient and stable allowing us to play two sports on it.”
The Galpharm pitch is currently being re-laid for the first time since 1996.
Mr Armitage said: “The pitch was guaranteed for 10 years but its life expectancy was considerably longer.
“It was ready for changing any time.”
The new playing surface should be ready for the Giants’ home match with Hull KR next Saturday.
Work on the pitch began after the team’s home match against Catalan Dragons on May 22. The Giants have played three games at the Shay Stadium in Halifax while the work is carried out.
The old pitch was rolled up and left in a heap in the stadium’s St Andrew’s Road car park.
Some 2,300 tonnes of sand was put down as a base before experts from Hewitt Sports Turf re-laid the pitch earlier this month.
