First strip of Stobart Stadium i-pitch laid (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

First strip of Stobart Stadium i-pitch laid

10:47am Thursday 5th January 2012 in Vikings news

First strip of Stobart Stadium i-pitch laid

THE Vikings issued a ground-breaking announcement in mid-August 2011 that it would play and train on the latest generation of artificial grass pitches when it re-entered the game's elite competition in 2012. This all-new pitch at the Stobart Stadium Halton will be known as the i-pitch (intelligent pitch) and managed in partnership by Halton Borough Council and Widnes Vikings.

When not in use by the Vikings, the i-pitch will also be available for the community to hire for a whole host of activities such as corporate events, birthday parties and stag do's. It will also transform into a five-a-side soccer and touch rugby dome during the evening and play host to a number of local competitions.

Throughout the process, the RFL has worked with the club, pitch manufacturers DESSO sports systems and installation experts J. Mallinson (Ormskirk) Ltd to ensure it meets the required standards for rugby league and football. Aided in their task by a vast array of specialist vehicles and machinery, it truly has been a case of "out with the old and in with the new." From day one, the transformation of the once grassed playing surface into a state of the art pitch in readiness for the Vikings 2012 Super League return has been nothing short of remarkable, the current view bearing little resemblance to the pitch last trodden by the Vikings first team in early September. Such is the urgency to complete the process on schedule this has often meant working long into the night even during the recent adverse weather conditions.

After more than 12 weeks of preparation work, the first strip of the ‘i-pitch' was laid on Wednesday 4 January with a completion date of Friday 13 January on the agenda.

Delighted with proceedings thus far, Vikings' chief executive Julie Gaskell said; "It has been a lengthy process but our dream is now just 10 days away from becoming a reality.

"The support we have received from the game's governing body has been outstanding and we would also like to thank Halton Borough Council for their assistance during this process.

"We recently wrote to a number of sports clubs about whether they would want to come and have a taster session on the i-pitch before we officially open it on Saturday 11 February."