England's upcoming international friendly against Ghana in the United States is set to avoid the significant pitch problems that have caused concern, following a comprehensive overhaul of the playing surface at Gillette Stadium.
Learning from Past Mistakes: The 2019 Injury Scare
The match, scheduled for June 23 at the home of the NFL's New England Patriots, will be played on a completely new natural grass pitch. This decisive action comes in direct response to a serious incident in 2019, when Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek ruptured his Achilles tendon during a friendly at the same venue. That injury sidelined the player for over a year.
The problem six years ago stemmed from the installation method. For Chelsea's visit, grass was simply rolled on top of the stadium's permanent artificial turf just three days before the game, creating an unstable and dangerous surface.
A New Approach: Months of Preparation
This time, the process will be fundamentally different and far more thorough. The current artificial playing field is being removed entirely. Its replacement, a dedicated natural grass surface, will then be given months to bed in properly before any football is played on it.
The pitch will see its first competitive action not from the England squad, but from the stadium's other major occupants, Major League Soccer's New England Revolution. This ensures the surface is fully settled and tested long before Thomas Tuchel's England side arrive for their summer fixture.
A slight delay to the start of the renovation work is possible due to the New England Patriots' unexpectedly successful season, which may include playoff games. Work was initially slated to begin after their final regular season game on January 4.
Other Football News in Brief
Wolves Chairman's Unexpected Parting Gift: Following the announcement that Wolverhampton Wanderers chairman Jeff Shi had stepped aside from his operational role at Molineux, club staff arrived at work to find a Christmas card signed by 'Jeff and the Senior Leadership Team'. The card included a £50 Amazon voucher for every employee, a generous gesture that came less than a day after news of his departure broke.
Salford City's Stadium Ambitions: The administration of rugby league's Salford Red Devils has prompted Salford Council to reconsider the future of the AJ Bell Stadium. Gary Neville's Salford City FC, who currently play at the 5,000-capacity Peninsula Stadium, have previously explored a move to the 12,000-seat venue. The club's ambitions were underscored by a major new investment from former Manchester United sponsors AIG, who are now the League Two side's largest shareholder.
McIlroy Offers Cautious Backing for Amorim Golf superstar and lifelong Manchester United fan Rory McIlroy offered measured support for manager Ruben Amorim. The Northern Irishman, fresh from winning the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, joked he might bring his trophy to Old Trafford "as long as they stop conceding four goals at home." He noted seeing "a few encouraging signs" and "a little bit of optimism" around the club.
Premier Padel Tour Heads to London: The rapidly growing sport of padel will see the Premier Padel Tour arrive in London for the first time in August. The event, part of the tour's highest tier below the majors, is backed by the Lawn Tennis Association and will be staged in partnership with Sela, the Saudi live events group and front-of-shirt sponsor for Newcastle United. The newly refurbished Olympia London is the favoured venue.
Altrincham Chairman's Rallying Cry Falls Flat: Altrincham FC chairman Mark Luby publicly challenged his players to show "heart and courage" after an embarrassing FA Trophy exit to Telford United. His pre-match comments on the club website, urging a response in their derby against Rochdale, failed to inspire the team, who subsequently lost 0-3 to the National League leaders.
