Manchester United have released behind-the-scenes footage of the renovation of the Old Trafford pitch. The club resurface the pitch every summer, but this year they have completely dug up the turf for the first time in 14 years.
Renovation details and reasons
United said the project has been undertaken to improve player welfare and water drainage. The pitch is not being lowered, but the grass is being slightly extended, and protection around the drop-off will be added. The slope around Old Trafford's pitch has caused problems in the past. Angel Di Maria was slammed into the brickwork by Ashley Young in a game between United and Paris Saint-Germain in 2019, while more recently, it was a factor in Benjamin Sesko's injury against Liverpool last season.
“Ben got a bang on his shin when he fell down the side of the pitch,” Michael Carrick explained to MUTV. “It’s something that he’s been carrying for a little bit as well, so we’ve had to manage him a bit, but he’s certainly had a bang right on the same spot.”
Work progress and contractor
The club has released footage online to show the progress of the renovation over the last few weeks. United have hired Fineturf to help with the renovation, which has seen a fleet of heavy-duty vehicles enter the ground to dig up the pitch. The waste material is set to be recycled and reused within the trade.
Pitch composition and future plans
The pitch at Old Trafford is a hybrid surface consisting of 96 per cent natural grass that’s reinforced by 4 per cent artificial fibres stitched deep into the soil. Used by leading teams around the world, this process allows grass to intertwine with plastic to create a durable, even and well-draining surface. It is being regrown from scratch for the final time at the current Old Trafford, with a proposed new stadium being worked on.
United now own a significant portion of land around Old Trafford to accommodate a 100,000-seater stadium. Now that the land has been secured, Foster + Partners can resume design work after sharing initial impressions last year. The Reds have earmarked July 9 to announce more stadium details, including further details of the stadium site, and to reveal the formal consultation period.
