(12 Apr 2015, 7:13 pm)Andreos1 wrote I've seen a gradual improvement over the years, from when I used to play and when the eldest first started playing 7/8 years back.
The increased use of 4G pitches and some of the non-league teams hiring out their facilities, has seen a gradual drop in postponed games over this winter - from what I have seen/experienced.
However, that isn't across all age-groups and I know not all of the centres have seen much improvement with their drainage facilities.
The lack of snow this year seemed to help too.
Still not good enough and still more money needs investing into the system.
Burton is all well and good with the professionals, but unless the grassroots system gets a lot more investment, those at Burton will end up twiddling their thumbs or having their work cut out.
Development and up to U9 or U10 are fine, as most fixtures in the RFYL are arranged on the four 'development centres' own pitches. We've played at Newbottle, but not at any of the others. Even the grass pitches there are miles ahead of anything else you're likely to encounter.
Most places we play at have hills and ditches on the pitch, and the goals are probably not match legal. The pitch we played at on Saturday was in desperate need of watering and seeding, and you ended up with a cloud of dust in the keeper's face every time the wind blew. Madness.