Dworp (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – FC Dworp’s football field is badly damaged due to overuse and rain. Sports director Rudy Vanderelst wants a €600,000 artificial grass field. The local government supports the idea but needs proper approval first.
FC Dworp has used the Rilroheidestraat in Dworp as their home for many years. They have held training and played matches there. Recently, several amateur football clubs have also used the field. This has caused a lot of wear and tear on the pitch.
The field has already been used a lot and has faced more problems because of heavy rain in the last few months. FC Dworp mentioned that these issues together have left the pitch in bad shape. It cannot handle the constant use from both the teams and the weather.
What solutions are being considered for FC Dworp’s unplayable football field?
According to Rudy Vanderelst the sports director of FC Dworp, the situation is very bad. He said there is “not a single blade of grass left,” and the football field has turned into a mud puddle. This makes the field unplayable. Teams cannot hold matches or practice on it.
Vanderelst explained that the field needs to stay dry for several days to be usable again. He mentioned that this shows how serious the condition of the pitch is. The constant wear, heavy rain, and not enough recovery time have left the club needing major repairs or maintenance before the field can be used again.
“There is not a single blade of grass left, the entire football field is one mud puddle,”
says FC Dworp sports director Rudy Vanderelst.
“It is impossible to play football on it. It would have to be dry for a few days before we can play football on the field again.”
FC Dworp has to find new places for training and matches because their pitch is in poor condition. Their first teams often train at the fields in Kerkeveld, which is close by. Sometimes, they rent indoor football fields from a local padel club to keep up with their training schedule.
They mentioned that these actions help the club protect their home field while allowing players to continue practising. Despite these issues, FC Dworp is still growing. They now have 250 youth players.
“Our first teams often train on the fields at Kerkeveld in Beersel. And tonight, for example, we rented the indoor football fields of the Padel club. That way, we try to save the field a bit,”
Says Rudy Vanderelst.
FC Dworp is trying to find a better solution for their field problems. The club is thinking about installing an artificial grass field as a long-term fix. Rudy Vanderelst mentioned that they have already sent a proposal for this project. He believes that artificial grass is the best choice for their needs. With many training sessions and players, artificial turf would last longer and need less maintenance.
He said that this would create better playing conditions throughout the year. Vanderelst also said that with artificial grass, the club could provide a better surface for players. This would help them perform well and reduce the risk of damage to the pitch from heavy use and bad weather.
“We are considering an artificial grass field. We have submitted a file for this. Artificial grass is the ideal solution, especially for the number of training sessions and players. This way we can play football in better conditions. It will also be better technically,”
Says Rudy Vanderels.
This week, the FC Dworp board met with the local government to discuss their football pitch. They talked about the idea of putting in an artificial grass field. Mayor Jo Vander Meylen said the local government is making a plan that will take a few years.
He mentioned that this plan includes giving money for the artificial grass project. The mayor said they want to help, but there are some conditions. The plan needs approval to follow local rules. The local government will check these conditions closely before moving forward.
“The multi-year plan is now being drawn up, and they want to provide money for an artificial grass field,”
Says Mayor Jo Vander Meylen.
The cost to build the artificial grass field is around 600,000 euros. Mayor Vander Meylen said it is important to meet all the rules for the project. The local government supports the idea. They know that better playing conditions will help the club.
He mentioned that the process of getting approval and building will need careful planning. This investment should benefit both the club and the community by providing a lasting football pitch.
