Club stays cautious after pitch inspection and fortnight away
Swindon Town remain uncertain about a return to their Beversbrook training base after staff found the surface may have been contributing to an unusual number of summer injuries. Manager Ian Holloway said he could not confirm whether the team would resume sessions in Calne next week following two weeks of work at the Nigel Eady County Ground.
The club had the Beversbrook pitches inspected after a run of injuries during pre-season. The inspection reportedly concluded that how hard the surfaces had become might be a factor, prompting the decision to relocate training temporarily to the County Ground while hoping hot, dry weather might improve conditions.
Holloway said recent hot weather had caused problems across playing surfaces and that a forecast of rain over the coming weekend was unlikely to reverse the effects of "two months of constant hot weather" entirely. He left the timing of any return to Beversbrook to his backroom team.
"A lot of the staff know what I want, and now it's down to them to try and find us [a solution] in whichever way they can."
Speaking ahead of Saturday's trip to Oldham Athletic, Holloway stressed he did not blame staff at Beversbrook and pointed to wider challenges facing grounds teams in recent seasons. He said the changing climate had made pitch maintenance more difficult and that he trusted his own club's groundsman and the investment that had gone into the home surface.
His remarks included:
- Confirmation that the club had been training at the Nigel Eady County Ground for two weeks.
- An acceptance that continued work at the County Ground could risk affecting that surface, but praise for the groundsman's previous work to protect the pitch from frost.
- An acknowledgement that resolving the problem was "not in my pay grade", leaving operational decisions to staff.
Local implications and short-term choices
The short-term move to the County Ground illustrates the kinds of practical dilemmas lower-league clubs face when natural conditions threaten player welfare and preparation. Swindon’s grounds team and sporting staff must balance the immediate need for safe, playable surfaces with preserving the County Ground pitch that serves as the club's match stadium.
Holloway paid tribute to the club's groundsman, noting previous instances when foresight and maintenance had protected the County Ground surface from damage. He said that careful pitch management and prior investment had made the home pitch "that good" and credited the groundsman's ability to predict and mitigate problems.
| Issue | Action taken |
|---|---|
| Hardness of Beversbrook pitches following hot weather | Inspection of surfaces; temporary move to Nigel Eady County Ground |
| Risk to County Ground if used long-term for training | Monitoring and reliance on groundsman's expertise; decisions left to staff |
For supporters and local partners, the uncertainty raises questions about access to training sessions and community programmes that often take place at Beversbrook. If the club extends its stay at the County Ground, it will need to manage the pitch carefully to avoid match-day problems and to protect community use.
Holloway also addressed the wider context, suggesting that the difficulties were symptomatic of a changing climate and that such issues deserved greater attention across the game. He stopped short of laying blame on any individual and emphasised his focus on the players and getting through the current period.
"I'm more than confident in all of those things, but it's not in my pay grade. I can just shout and ball about it if I want. Whether they listen or not, who cares?"
In the coming days, the club's technical and grounds teams will assess whether rain or changes in the weather improve conditions at Beversbrook, or whether a longer-term solution is needed to safeguard players and pitches. Until then, the squad will continue to prepare away from their usual training base while staff weigh up the best course of action.
For local residents who use or visit Beversbrook, and for supporters keen to see the squad training, clarity will be welcome — but for now, practical considerations about surface health and player safety remain the priority.
