Millers braced for Wembley bumps

THE much-criticised Wembley pitch won't cause sleepless nights for Rotherham United.

They've had a bumpy ride all season at Don Valley due to last summer's U2 concert that left so much damage that it lasted right until the last match of the regular season.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Hard-working groundsman Jim Davison and his team have now started putting that right but their problems pale into insignificance compared to the problems at Wembley.

Despite the stadium being revamped at staggering cost, the pitch has failed to live up to the surroundings.

Due to wear and tear from sporting events and concerts, it's been relaid ten times in ten years at a cost of around £1 million to the FA.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

For Wednesday's international between Mexico and England, it was scattered with green-coloured sand.

Former England captain John Terry and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger have been among the critics but Millers skipper Ian Sharps won't be joining them.

"We can't do anything about the pitch," he said. "In our league we tend to play on poor pitches every week anyway, so we're used to them, but it's a shame about what's happened there because when you're growing up you dream of playing on the Wembley surface. “