Quotes sought for a KGV drainage upgrade
KING George V Field’s impressive upgrade of recent years could continue – under ground.
With the large grassy expanse proving unusable for large chunks of the winter, the KGV board are strongly considering ploughing up the field and installing quality modern drainage systems which would allow even greater community use and maximise potential hire costs.
‘I am hopeful it will happen some time in the future and from my point of view it would be fantastic,’ said KGV board member and groundsman Stuart Le Prevost.
‘It is absolutely not a definite but on the would-like list,’ he added.
The Guernsey Football League Management have an agreement with KGV to hire the grass pitches on a regular basis, as well as the popular 3G pitch, but with winters seemingly getting ever-wetter, the pitches go weeks without being fit for use.
‘We are seeking proposals and quotes,’ said the head groundsman Le Prevost, who confirmed that soil samples had been sent to UK companies for analysis.
The existing land drainage system, which was installed before a ground upgrade almost 40 years ago, has long proved ineffective with the western half of the ground particularly wet for much of the winter.
The most reliable grass pitch runs parallel and nearest to the car park, but has long been dedicated to the St Jacques Vikings rugby teams.
However, St Jacques, which has become largely subsidised by Guernsey Rugby Club in recent times, last week announced they were ending their long-standing involvement with KGV and would play all their fixtures at Footes Lane in future, both pitches on that site having had their own successful drainage upgrades.
