A recent review of the SPL pitches has given the Inverness pitch only 5/10. I don't think the pitch is that bad - ok it is starting to cut up a little recently in the goalmouth areas but overall I thought it is still in good shape considering the recent weather.....and wouldn't say it is uneven and partly worn....

Daily Record web-site - We run the rule over the SPL's pitches and discover best and worst surfaces

Feb 26 2009

RANGERS 9/10

Top of the league and top marks for the standard of their pitch. Rangers spent fortunes during the summer relaying a surface which has been troublesome in the past. It has paid off with Ibrox still resembling a bowling green.

CELTIC 9/10

Celtic Park has been the best playing surface consistently over the past decade. The SPL champions have maintained their high standards again this term and the pitch remains in immaculate condition.

FALKIRK 8/10

Jim Dawson was presented with the Scottish Groundsman of the Year trophy for the second time before last weekend's game against Hamilton. He came out top in a poll of SFA referees who score conditions before, during and after matches.

ST MIRREN 8/10

St Mirren's carpet was only laid three weeks ago so there is no excuses for it not being up to scratch. So far, so good with visiting teams quick to praise the standard of the surface.

HEARTS 7/10

One of the best grounds for atmosphere and a well maintained pitch. Tynecastle has a few bare patches appearing through wear and tear but the surface remains true.

HAMILTON 7/10

Just one point behind Motherwell in the race for a top-six spot but light years ahead of their Lanarkshire rivals in terms of preparing a surface that allows decent football.

KILMARNOCK 7/10

Traditionally, Rugby Park has always been one of the better surfaces in Scottish football and this season has been no different. It must be the balmy Ayrshire weather.

DUNDEE UNITED 6/10

The Arabs lived up to their nickname last year by piling tons of sand on the pitch. This term the surface is much improved and while not perfectly manicured it gets pass marks.

INVERNESS 5/10

Following the recent Arctic-like conditions in the Highlands the Caley pitch has taken a bit of a battering from the elements. Uneven and partly worn, it is not conducive to free-flowing football.

ABERDEEN 3/10

Looks more like a ploughed field than a football pitch. Rutted, bare and covered in sand. Anyone hoping to play apassing game can forget it.

HIBS 2/10

The Easter Road outfit give Motherwell a run for their money when it comes to the appalling condition of the pitch. Resembles a patchwork quilt and there's even one large strip of ground which is about an inch higher than the rest.

MOTHERWELL 1/10

Gordon Strachan was being kind when he claimed Fir Park wasn't good enough to play rugby on. It's not fit for grazing sheep. Devoid of grass, the Lanarkshire bog is an total embarrassment to a decent club.

Edited February 28, 200916 yr by Tichy_Blacks_Back

The pitch has never been quite the same since the undersoil heating system, was installed but I've seldom seen it look as poor as it did on Saturday. Two more successive Saturday home games are unlikely to help.

Kilmarnock 7/10??? I don't think so.

New management team - maybe time to clear the decks completely - time for a supporters meeting to sack TC!

No comments really as most of what I think has been said.

However, driving past the stadium today I was shocked by all the litter, what a mess, I guess it was after the car boot sale but it wasn't very nice to look at.

ICT managed to get the 10 000 seat rule overturned. It's time to work on the undersoil heating rule too.

Instead of having it written into the rules that the club must have heating installed, just make it a rule that if they lose a match to the weather they get a heavy fine. Then they can do without heating if they like.

Time to realise that parts of Scotland (eg Broadwood) get a lot of frost, others (eg TCS) do not.

i would actually say that the pitch was ok, apart from the goal area and the touch line that the assistant runs on.

deserved much more then a five, but suppose, average

These stats and scores need to be taken with a pinch of salt. When did the inspector look at the surface? In mid winter when there's no growth in the grass, probably after two consecutive home games and a reserve / U-19.

Undersoil heating in itself should not be a problem. The problem for us is that it was installed into the pitch whereas the normal method would be to install before the pitch is laid.

Anyway, I remember who was runner-up in the Scottish groundsman of the year last season and thats good enough for me.

It's cause of all these home games it's been used a lot lately.

Pitch will improve as weather is getting better and It's gettin a 2 week rest.

Everyone nos the goal area will always be bad since the keeper is moving around in the same area and linesman area will be the same they just run up and down the same feckin line for 90 mins

Anyway, I remember who was runner-up in the Scottish groundsman of the year last season and thats good enough for me.

Maybe that's the problem alex - he is living in the past!