THEY are working on a tactical masterplan down at the Galpharm Stadium.
Not for Huddersfield Giants, nor for Huddersfield Town. At least, not just yet.
This plan is in the hands of pitch experts who are working round the clock to bring a stunning new playing surface to the Stadium, to benefit both sports clubs for years to come.
And the figures involved are amazing.
10 weeks to complete the work
£730,000 the total cost
8 inches of sand laid beneath the new pitch
2,300 tonnes of sand laid as a base
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Thousands of strands of artificial Desso grass sewn into the real thing
The old pitch has already gone – and now resides in a heap in the Stadium’s St Andrew’s Road car park.
It is being replaced by the latest synthetic and grass pitch, comparable to Wembley Stadium and 13 of the 20 Barclays Premier League clubs.
When the stadium was first built 16 years ago, the first pitch was constructed completely of grass.
But that one was dug up after only 12 months and replaced with a Desso system pitch, which has stood the test of time well.
Now it has gone and in its place will be a playing surface that is designed to be one of the best in the country.
It is also one of the biggest. It will be the fourth widest soccer pitch in the country (behind Manchester City, Everton and Hereford) and is also the widest pitch in Super League for the Giants.
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Galpharm Stadium managing director Gareth Davies is almost bubbling with enthusiasm as he surveys the work on the new pitch, even if it does look more like Blackpool beach than Wembley at the moment.
“The Desso programme is now in week three of 10 and we are right on schedule.
“We started by taking away the top 10 inches of the old pitch, which exposed the under soil heating.
“This has been assessed and as expected, remains in perfect working order. As a result we have only replaced the flow and return header, which connects the system to the boiler plant.
“That has been sited in front of the Fantastic Media stand.
“We have then laid 2,300 tonnes of sand on top of this as a base layer which is what has been happening so far this week.
“Over the next few days 1,400 tonnes of root zone, a sand and soil mix, will be laid on top of that.
“Seeding will then begin in the middle of next week with the grass seed. The Desso artificial fibre will not actually be woven into the natural surface until about week eight of the programme”.
Mr Davies said that the work will be done with what are effectively giant sewing machines which ensure the artificial fibres are intertwined with the natural grass.
There will also be an entirely artificial strip down the Direct Golf Stand side of the pitch.
That houses the technical areas for Town manager Lee Clark and his opposite umber and will serve as an all-weather training surface and warm-up area for both soccer and rugby league clubs.
Mr Davies added: “Ten men are working Šsix days a week and KSDL is spending £730,000 to deliver the perfect playing surface for both the football and rugby clubs.
“The new surface will be identical to 13 of the 20 Premiership football clubs and Wembley Stadium and will remain exactly the same size as currently, as requested by both teams’ coaches”.
The first game on the new pitch is to be the Giants v Hull KR in Super League on July 31.
Up to then, the Giants are playing their “home” games at The Shay in Halifax.