‘It’s one of the worst RFU investments ever’ – despair as Derby RFC pitch is flooded yet again
The new state of the art 4G pitch at Derby RFC has been devastated yet again by catastrophic flooding brought on by Storm Christophe.
This is the third time that the pitches have been flooded since the RFU-funded facility was opened in 2018.
The artificial surface was destroyed back in November of 2019 after severe flooding wrecked the 1st XV pitch with the damage feared to be just as bad this time around just over a year later.
The RFU invested £400,000 into creating the playing field that was completed in March of 2018 as part of a national scheme to implement artificial pitches across the UK.
The club’s ground which is located on a flood plain has been ravaged three times in the last two years with the ground currently sitting underwater following on from heavy rainfall brought on by Storm Christophe.
this was amateur footage taken from the flooding back in Novemeber of 2019
— DerbyRugbyClub (@DerbyRugbyClub) November 8, 2019
The club made a plea for funds to help repair the catastrophic damage caused by the flooding over a year ago – with an estimated £10,000 being needed to relay the playing surface.
A similar fundraising effort will surely be needed on this occasion to restore the pitch to a suitable playing condition once the floodwaters subside.
this was Derby’s playing pitches yesterday
Derby wakes up to more flooding, thanks Storm Christophe! pic.twitter.com/f2ETQhCwn6
— DerbyRugbyClub (@DerbyRugbyClub) January 21, 2021
Derby RFC’s chairman, Martyn Murney, spoke to Rugby Dump following on from the flooding in 2019 saying,
“The club has suffered heavily from the recent floods, which have caused extensive damage to the new 3G Artificial Grass Pitch(AGP), rendering it unusable for the next 3 months ( the current estimate). In addition to the pitch, the Haslams Lane road surface has also been badly damaged and needs resurfacing. Furthermore, we need to add additional preventative measures to try and stop future floods from causing similar damage.
All this costs money, and because we are based on a flood plain, such risks cannot be insured, so the Buck stops with the club.”
It’s fair to say it was a little damp near our offices yesterday morning.
The large white rectangle is the main pitch at Derby Rugby Club. #darleyabbey #riverderwent #flood pic.twitter.com/l3eF6YNxpi— K&K Fire Protection (@KKFireDerby) October 28, 2019
As you can see from the photograph below, the floodwater has a devastating effect on the 4G playing surface as it rips the pitch up from underneath.
A very sad looking synthetic pitch at @DerbyRugbyClub earlier this morning after the #riverderwent burst its banks. @derbyshire_live @Ed__Dawes #forceofnature #rugby pic.twitter.com/HfZmrlYak3
— grumpy man (@Baddileyram) November 9, 2019
