Southend United begin work on training ground pitches

Four hundred tonnes of sand has been placed onto the surfaces in a bid to improve the pitches at Blues’ Eastern Avenue base.

And the club’s Steve Kavanagh insisted it was important the work was carried out as quickly as possible.

“We’ve struggled with the pitches at Boots & Laces in the last year or so with wet weather,” said Kavanagh.

“The players and the academy were often unable to train on it so we’ve taken this step of increasing the level of annual maintenance we are doing to try to protect the playing surfaces.

“We’ve done it as quickly as possible to ensure the pitches can be given the time they need to be in a much better state for the start of pre-season training at the beginning of July.”

Work will continue throughout the summer but Kavanagh is also keen for the public to play their part in ensuring the pitches are in the best shape possible next term.

“People often jump over the fence to play football on our pitches and others like to walk their dogs on it but we can’t have that happening now,” said Kavanagh.

“It shouldn’t really ever happen if we’re honest but it’s even more important now because the last thing we need is for these pitches to be trampled on.”

Blues were often forced to train elsewhere in Southend last term and held sessions at the playfootball.net centre in Prittlewell as well as the Len Forge Centre.

Training also took place at Waterside Farm on Canvey Island.

And Shrimpers boss Phil Brown has welcomed the investment on the pitches at Boots & Laces.

“It’s good news that work has started on the training ground and it’s part of the improvements we’re keen to make ahead of next season,” said Brown.

“We obviously spend more time here than anywhere else so it’s vital we make everything the best it can be.

“The first team, under 21s and youth teams are all training here and all of the younger teams play their matches here too, so it’s far from ideal when we can’t get onto the pitches.”