The pitch at Wembley stadium will this week be relaid for the tenth time in less than three years. The hallowed turf was subjected to a blistering burst of heat from the Alex Fergsuon hairdryer after the Carling Cup final, with the United boss blaming the pitch for Michael Owen’s season-ending injury. Further complaints were voiced after the England – Egypt friendly last week. The stadium’s mixed-use programme– it regularly hosts rugby and NFL, amongst other shows — is usually blamed for the chopped-up pitch, but it seems to be a recurring problem. The surface was heavily criticised after 2007′s FA Cup tie between Manchester United and Chelsea, the first match to be played there, and despite the regular relayings (costing £90,000 a pop) little seems to have improved.
