For many years, De Kuip won the VVCS Cup for the best stadium pitch in the Netherlands. Yet this summer, Feyenoord opted for a hybrid system. Not because the natural grass is inadequate, says field manager Mario Spaans, but because the demands of top-flight football and the players’ preferences have changed. ‘As a club, you can’t afford to fall behind.’
Spaans has been field manager at De Kuip since 2022. The former head greenkeeper was appointed for his specialist knowledge and leads a team of eight staff members. Why the switch to hybrid, when the 100 per cent natural grass at De Kuip had been voted the best pitch for years? ‘The request came mainly from the players and the technical staff,’ says Spaans. ‘Ten years ago, a good natural grass pitch was enough,’ says Spaans. ‘But virtually all clubs in the Eredivisie now play on hybrid surfaces. Players train on it, play on it and notice the difference. You can’t afford to fall behind. Last winter, players also noticed that the natural grass became softer and heavier during wet spells. With the Grassmax hybrid system, you create greater stability without losing the character of natural grass.’
Time
Spaans: ‘Virtually all ground managers know how to maintain a pitch and what is required to do so. As clubs invest more – partly thanks to the KNVB’s encouraging role – the differences in quality are becoming increasingly smaller.’ Spaans: ‘Of course, we at Feyenoord had been looking into hybrid pitches for some time, but due to a busy summer events programme, it wasn’t practical to install one. Now that the club and the stadium have become one, it’s easier to make that happen. Furthermore, last winter’s snow was definitely an eye-opener that prompted us to make the switch to hybrid.'
Challenges
The existing natural grass pitch has been retained and fitted with the Grassmax system during this summer’s refurbishment. According to Spaans, a complete refurbishment of the playing surface is planned within three years. ‘Then everything will be removed, right down to the drainage, and we’ll rebuild the pitch from scratch.’
The last major renovation dates back to 1994. ‘Investments were postponed due to earlier plans for a new stadium. Now that it is clear we will be continuing here for at least another ten to fifteen years, those plans have been revived.’ According to Spaans, the pitch’s structure in particular no longer meets current requirements. In addition, a fibre sand layer installed in 1994 results in poor water permeability, making it difficult for grass roots to grow through it. To improve this, we started at the time by piercing through the fibre sand layer annually with the Verti-Drain, after which the holes were filled with fire-dried sand. Spaans has been using a TopChanger for several years now, which injects water and sand into the soil under high pressure. ‘This breaks up the hard layer. It improves drainage, allowing roots to develop more effectively.’ Spaans: ‘I prefer the TopChanger because it minimises the risk of damaging the underground infrastructure.’
An open culture of consultation
Spaans regards collaboration as a key factor for success. ‘We have an open culture within our field management team and with the technical staff and players. We consult with one another based on respect and appreciation. If they tell us what feels right, we take that on board in our work. We also let them know what we need.’ This coordination is evident on a daily basis, as is the case during this interview. Ahead of the upcoming friendly match, the team manager drops by to assess the quality of the pitch together with Spaans. Both the turf and the measurement data are checked during this process. Spaans and his team measure, amongst other things, the hardness, shock absorption and energy return, whilst a grip meter determines whether the pitch offers sufficient grip – characteristics that are essential for the players.
Testing the hybrid-fibre artificial turf on the pitch at De Kuip
Culture
At the request of the stadium management, it was decided to retain the current pitch for another season. To this end, it underwent an extensive summer renovation, during which the turf was milled using the Fieldtopmaker, sanded, overseeded, fertilised and fitted with Grassmax hybrid fibres. Typically, a hybrid BVO pitch is stitched to a depth of around 18 centimetres. Here, Spaans has opted for a fibre that is stitched to a depth of ‘only’ ten centimetres: shallow stitching. Spaans: ‘If I have it stitched deeper, I run the risk of piercing the fibre sand layer, and as we intend to reseed that area and reapply the hybrid fibres next season, we actually want to leave that layer in place until the full pitch renovation takes place. Now I can scrape off the layer above the fibre sand containing the hybrid fibres, remove it and rebuild it. The aim is then to remove the entire structure, right down to the drainage, in ’28, after which the sub-base will be rebuilt in accordance with current requirements and the pitch will be laid with new turf, following which the hybrid system will be installed again,’ explains Spaans. According to him, this is likely to become the annual procedure for combining the highest pitch quality with intensive use due to the busy competition schedule and the many events. The training pitches also undergo a similar Fieldtopmaker summer renovation every year, but the hybrid system is retained.
Spaans is trying to look ahead on all fronts. This is evident not only in his choice of a hybrid pitch, but also in the way he applies fertiliser, renews his machinery and prepares for the complete renovation in 2028. In addition to the switch to a hybrid pitch, the fertilisation programme has also been adjusted. Spaans: ‘This year, we’ve switched to liquid fertiliser from Volt, similar to the Consolidate programme from England. Following positive experiences at the 1908 training complex, this approach has now also been introduced at De Kuip. “The nutrients are absorbed directly by the plant. By fertilising weekly, the grass remains stronger and healthier, ensuring the turf cover remains more consistent. What’s more, the top layer stays cleaner, which makes summer renovation easier and cheaper. This benefits pitch quality, the environment and results in cost savings.’
Sustainability
De Kuip is also taking steps towards greater sustainability. This year, the six petrol-powered rotary and cylinder mowers will be replaced by electric models from Dennis. ‘We hope to start using them within six weeks,’ says Spaans. The decision is partly based on positive experiences reported by colleagues at other BVO organisations. ‘Electric machines are quieter, produce no exhaust fumes and improve both working conditions and the sustainability of maintenance.’
For Spaans, the switch to the Grassmax hybrid system is ultimately not about saying goodbye to natural grass, but about future-proofing an iconic pitch. ‘We will continue to work with natural grass; we are simply improving the quality of play, particularly during the winter months. You can’t predict the future, but through investments in pitch construction, new maintenance techniques, sustainable machinery and close collaboration with the technical staff, De Kuip certainly aims to continue meeting the highest standards of top-flight football for years to come.’
Article by Wijnand Meijboom (Field Manager – NWST)
