McCaffrey: Switch to summer football
Chris Tait • Published 21 Dec 2011 12:00
5 Comments
STUART McCaffrey has warned that Scottish football faces extinction unless the game's authorities agree to switch to summer football before it is too late.
The Morton captain has grown weary of seeing pitches and performances deteriorate during the winter months, with fans asked to shell out to sit and stand in freezing stadiums.
And McCaffrey is so frustrated that he even feels fortunate to be closer to hanging up his boots - with young players facing real uncertainty so early in their careers.
McCaffrey told the Tele: "It sounds wrong but I'm glad I'm 32 and in the latter stages of my playing career. I would hate to be a 20-year-old making my way in the game.
"I was watching St Johnstone v Aberdeen last week, two decent-sized Premier League clubs, and 1,600 people went.
"I think the people that went should be given some sort of medal for going out in that sort of weather and risking their lives on those roads - especially those travelling from Aberdeen.
"How can you justify paying to go and do that in times like these? What is that number going to be in a year's time? What's it going to be like for a club like ours?
"We are relying on people to come and watch and it is a real shame - plan A is not the answer. We need to change it.
"It's absolutely killing the game. I actually said something about it on Twitter last week and said summer football really has to be brought in. Some thought football had too much to compete with in the summer months but I completely disagree as we do have decent pitches when the weather is milder.
"It is farcical the way it is at the moment and the game is going to die. There are going to be no clubs left outwith the SPL, certainly not many and certainly not full-time.
"A guy who disagreed on Twitter's parting shot was 'see you in 10 years when we are still talking about summer football'.
"I said 'I don't know what is going to be left of Scottish football in 10 years'. I really worry about what is going to happen to clubs."
Many clubs in Scotland - both in the SPL and SFL - are already relying heavily on the generosity and personal wealth of their chairmen.
McCaffrey said: "I feel sorry for guys like our chairman, as if it wasn't for him where would Morton be? Where would any club be without guys like that?
"Dunfermline have shut a stand and St Johnstone are talking about doing the same thing and selling the land that stand is on.
"I dare say that will help keep the club afloat along with the money from a guy like Geoff Brown and his son."
McCaffrey is adamant the quality of play on the pitch would also be improved by summer football as squads will be able to train on good surfaces in good conditions. He said: "The other week we were training on Astroturf and on Friday we had no other option but to go for a walk in the country.
"Everywhere was completely frozen and the roads weren't safe to travel somewhere else to train so we had a 45-minute walk around Quarriers.
"You can't be in a gym on a Friday because it is supposed to be a light day where you are preparing for a game.
"If you can't practice properly then you can't give your best on a Saturday, and that means all the fans that do come are not seeing players at their best.
"It's ridiculous. The season always starts well and it usually ends well because the pitches are good, but during the winter period it is really, really difficult."
The skipper pointed out that some players also risk aggravating injuries by training consistently on artificial surfaces. McCaffrey added: "Peter MacDonald would be a good example of that.
"Peter has had a few operations on his knee and doesn't have much cartilage left and he'll be sore after training on that for a couple of days.
"If we train on it for two days then he can't give of his best because his knee is hurting - we have to look at changing things in Scotland."
This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 21 Dec 11
Have your say. Post a comment on this article.
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melrose
2 posts
Dec 21, 12:19
Report commentThe Morton Captain talks a lot of sense.
Recommend?
Yes 11
No 0
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scullerypress
4 posts
Dec 21, 14:29
Report commentSummer football - Mar - Nov.
2 professional leagues of 16.
League 2 play on Friday nights, League 1 on Saturday.
North and South semi professional leagues of 16 below that.
Junior, EofS, Highland League etc below that.
A true pyramid structure with promotion and relegation including playoffs, between all leagues.
That'd work.
Recommend? Yes 3
No 0
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madness7
13 posts
Dec 21, 14:38
Report commentTry tell the dinosaurs who run scottish football that. no chance they will change.
Recommend? Yes 5
No 0
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darrenstrutt
17 posts
Dec 21, 15:33
Report commentI don't necesarilly agree with summer football, but maybe a winter shutdown during December and January could be a solution, with the normal season running from mid July - December, and then February until the end of May. That way pitches will be able to have a proper rest during the summer months to allow the grass to recover in good growing conditions, and we will be able to avoid the vast majority of the shocking winter weather.
Works in the Alpine countries like Switzerland and Austria.
Recommend? Yes 0
No 1
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UnkilGed
111 posts
Dec 21, 23:16
Report commentIf grass is played on in the summer then it heals faster and grows back in rapidly if damaged. Playing in the winter damages it beyond repair and it doesn't grow back below 11 degrees C. Therefore the pitches are needing reseeding a lot more after winter damage.
Scottish football has to be played with the big punt up the park due to underfoot conditions and as a result the skill factor of playing it along the ground suffers. I think a 4 months break Nov to March would not only save the pitches but be advantageous to the game in Scotland as a whole.
Recommend? Yes 1
No 1
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