"It's disgraceful" - Derby County told to fix "truly awful" issue at Pride Park | OneFootball

FLW's Rams fan pundit believes that the pitch at Pride Park needs to be greatly improved ASAP

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Derby County have been urged to improve the playing surface at Pride Park ahead of next season, as our FLW fan pundit believes it is affecting the players' ability to play quickly and hindering their chances of success on home turf going forward.

The Rams' current full focus will be on their season-defining final day clash against Stoke City this weekend, but it is clear that, regardless of their fortunes as a team, they also need to focus their off-field efforts towards making improvements as a club after the campaign finishes.

Derby have called Pride Park their home since 1997, after previously playing at the Baseball Ground since 1895. The stadium holds a capacity of around 33,597, making it the 16th-largest football ground in England.

Derby fan pundit makes 'truly awful' Pride Park pitch claim

The playing surface at Pride Park has had its fair share of wear and tear over recent years, with little improvement made to it since a new SIS Grass Hybrid pitch was installed ahead of the 2015/16 Championship campaign.

It is unclear if the Rams' groundsmen operate any differently to their counterparts across the EFL, but the pitch has been visibly cut up and damaged in recent months following the end of winter, while it also hosted an extra game in March as the Women's League Cup final was held at the stadium.

We asked Derby's FLW fan pundit, Shaun Woodward, to name one issue in particular that the club needs to fix as a priority this summer, and he picked out the pitch at Pride Park as the most pressing matter that must be sorted out ahead of next season.

“The one massive thing we need to fix this summer is the state of the (Pride Park) pitch," Shaun told FLW.

“It is truly awful. It’s not conducive to the football whatsoever. The bobble on the pitch, the roll of the ball, it’s disgraceful for a Championship club to have a pitch like that.

“And you can tell it’s affected our play at home in the last few games. I’ve seen Kane Wilson trying to go down the wing with the ball, Mendez-Laing at times, they’re constantly having to really concentrate on the roll of the ball, rather than really just play as if it is going to roll nicely for them.

“They’re having to take extra touches. It slows them down, and is not great for us whatsoever.

“That is probably why we have played better away from home in the last couple of games, because their pitches are so much better.

“For me, sort out the Pride Park pitch. It is an absolute disgrace.”

The Pride Park pitch has been criticised by players and managers - it needs sorting ASAP

Derby have struggled near the bottom of the Championship throughout this season, and their home record has been a clear issue despite playing in front of large crowds at Pride Park every other week.

John Eustace's side sit 19th in the second-tier standings right now, but their record on home turf is the fifth-worst in the whole of the league so far this term, while they sit higher up in 16th in the away standings for the whole division.

They would clearly be further away from the bottom three if they had played better at Pride Park this season, and the pitch may well be a big factor as to why they have struggled.

Not only have Derby got cause to complain at the state of their playing surface, but neutrals who have had to play on the pitch have also had their say.

Following the Women's League Cup Final at the stadium in March, Chelsea midfielder Erin Cuthbert said: "I don't think this surface was fit for a final," while her manager, Sonia Bompastor, was also not best pleased at the conditions that her players had to adjust to on the day.

"It is a shame to have this pitch for a final, especially when you expect in England to have the best groundsmen and pitches in the world," she told the BBC.

"I'm not sure if it was a men's final game it would be the same. We just need to make sure we have the best facilities and grass to play the games."

Clearly, those connected with Derby are not the only ones that feel as if improvements need to be made at Pride Park, and it does look as if the club have taken such advice on board ahead of next term. It was recently revealed at a Rams' supporters meeting that the pitch is set for a 'comprehensive overhaul' during the off-season.

That will surely serve as a huge relief to many at the club, not least head-coach John Eustace, who likes his players to attack with speed and quick movement, and so will have his aims for success helped by the playing surface being improved in the near future.