Maidstone United threaten legal action over 3G pitches

One time Football League club and Ryman Premier league leaders Maidstone United are contemplating legal action after the Football Conference voted not to permit 3G pitches in the top two tiers of the non-league system. The proposal to allow the synthetic surface was defeated by 21 votes to 11.

One time Football League club and Ryman Premier league leaders Maidstone United are contemplating legal action after the Football Conference voted not to permit 3G pitches in the top two tiers of the non-league system. The proposal to allow the synthetic surface was defeated by 21 votes to 11.

Lawyers have apparently indicated that they have a strong case given that 3G pitches are used for Champions League and World Cup qualifying fixtures. However, this does not mean that all leagues are obliged to use them. One suspects that the issue is not the safety or suitability of the pitches, but a concern that they might give a home side familiar with them an advantage.

Football also tends to be resistant to technological innovations. Floodlights, admittedly primitive ones, were first used in the Victorian era and were then not permitted again until the 1950s. It took a long time for goal line technology to be introduced in the Premier League, despite its evident reliability and usefulness.

Maidstone also argue that the voting at the meeting was flawed with clubs in the second tier given one vote for every four clubs. However, it is not clear that this was a breach of the rules or that it is inherently unreasonable that tier one clubs should be given a bigger say. Maidstone United were not allowed to attend, but this particular decision does not appear to be the subject of a challenge. It is also argued that no facts and figures were provided to clubs attending.

Of course, Maidstone do not want to end up in court, but want to persuade the Conference to re-consider the decision. Since building the Gallagher Stadium and returning to the Kent county town, crowds have increased to an average of 2,000. They have also made up to £200,000 a year by hiring out their all weather home.