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Hampden pitch to be relaid before Scottish League Cup final

By Andrew Dickson

Wednesday 24 February 2016 16:31, UK

The Hampden pitch is being relaid before the League Cup final - just as it was before the same match last season
Image: The Hampden pitch is being relaid before the League Cup final - just as it was before the same match last season

Hampden Park Ltd have announced they will lay a new pitch at Scotland's national stadium ahead of next month's League Cup final.

The surface has been relaid on a number of occasions after a series of problems over the last few years and it has recently attracted criticism once again for its current condition.

That follows an extremely wet winter period in Scotland, where downpours have been more excessive than normal for the time of year.

There are two and a half weeks until Ross County meet Championship side Hibernian in the League Cup decider on March 13.

League Two team Queen's Park, who play their home games at Hampden, are scheduled to host Berwick Rangers the week before.

That means the turf will only be replaced after that match takes place on March 5 and officials are confident work will be completed in enough time.

There have been numerous problems with the pitch at Hampden in the past
Image: There have been numerous problems with the pitch at Hampden in the past

The League Cup final is the first of a number of high-profile matches taking place at Hampden in the space of a few weeks.

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Scotland will host Denmark in an international friendly there on March 29 and it is also the venue for the Petrofac Cup final between Rangers and Peterhead on April 10.

In addition, the Scottish Cup semi-finals take place the following weekend and the final will be played at the Glasgow venue on May 21.

Hampden Park Ltd managing director Peter Dallas said: "Hampden Park has suffered due to prolonged inclement weather and, in particular, heavy rainfall since the turn of the year.

Rangers striker Kenny Miller (left) and Peterhead's Graeme Smith (right) will play for the Petrofac Cup at Hampden on April 10
Image: Rangers striker Kenny Miller (left) and Peterhead's Graeme Smith (right) will play for the Petrofac Cup at Hampden on April 10

"This has been exacerbated by the programme of fixtures for Queen's Park.

"While the best efforts of the ground staff have ensured Hampden's playability, a series of showpiece matches due to take place this spring.

"The board of HPL Ltd has taken the proactive decision to provide the best possible conditions for these matches.

"Work on relaying the pitch will commence immediately after the Queen's Park match against Berwick Rangers."

Neil Doncaster, chief executive of the SPFL n
Image: SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster has welcomed news the pitch at Hampden will be replaced

SPFL Chief Executive Neil Doncaster said: "That our showpiece Scottish League Cup Final will be played on a newly-laid Hampden pitch is exactly the outcome the SPFL has been working towards.

"We have a great deal of sympathy for the team at Hampden - and indeed all member clubs - in terms of the weather conditions they have had to contend with recently.

"However it is only right that every effort was made to ensure the best possible surface is in place for a national cup final."

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