Confiscated cannabis heat lamps are being used at Rochdale’s Spotland Stadium in an effort to maintain a perfect playing surface.
The heat lamps had been seized by Greater Manchester Police in drugs raids on cannabis farms, and were donated by the force to help nurture the grass at the home of the League One club.
The lamps have been mounted onto a specially designed rigging in order to heat up the soil and provide warmer growing conditions for the turf around the goalmouths and the tunnel.
Speaking to the BBC, head groundsman Oli Makin was grateful to the police for providing equipment, saying: “It has saved the club a fortune, and the players will be happy, especially the goalkeeper.
Lighting rig getting there. Waiting on lights tomorrow and we’re away!! @officiallydale #rafc #wintergrowth pic.twitter.com/1tmyaIat94
— Oli Makin (@Olimakin) October 14, 2014
“I can’t thank the police enough,” he said.
The idea is not unique, with Notts County FC having implemented a similar scheme last year.
Estimated cost of equivalent lighting equipment is between £20,000 and £30,000, with the donation benefitting both parties as the police no longer have destroy the criminal property.
Instead, the lighting rigs will now help keep the pitch in good repair during the arduous League One campaign.
The Spotland pitch is under more stress than some clubs due to the ground also being home to Rochdale Hornets rugby league club, providing Makin with a headache.
“It gets a lot of wear and tear in winter because there are football matches on Saturdays and rugby on Sundays,” he said.
However, he is optimistic that the new lights will make a ‘massive difference’ to the playing surface, benefitting both teams in their respective seasons.
With Rochdale playing away from home this weekend, the lamps will have plenty of time to have an effect before the visit of Preston North End on November 1.
The Dale are currently sat ninth in the league after an impressive opening to the season following last year’s promotion, and players and fans alike will be excited to see the effect such an innovative idea has upon the playing surface.
Main image courtesy of Official Rochdale AFC via YouTube, with thanks.
