Springfield Stadium not ready for opening Jersey match

Springfield's new 3G surface should last between 12 and 15 years

Jersey's FA have had to relocate the island's matches with the Royal Navy as the new synthetic pitch at Springfield Stadium is not ready.

Jersey's men and women were due to play the Royal Navy on Saturday, 7 March on the new 3G surface.

But wet weather has meant the rubber pellets and sand needed for the pitch have not been able to be put down.

The women's game has been moved to the Jersey Wanderers' Hockey Club ground, with the men's game at nearby St Peter.

"It's disappointing, but we're hoping the weather will be better running into the weekend and early next week," the JFA's Bob Lawrence told BBC Radio Jersey.

"We have the boy's Under-18's Muratti the following Saturday, so we're hoping it will be ready for that.

"We can't rush it, the procedures for putting the pitch together say you need four clear dry days to put the sand and pellets on, and that's what we're waiting for," he added.

The new £700,000 synthetic pitch, which was part-funded by a grant from the Football Association, was commissioned for this summer's Island Games, which Jersey are hosting.

Springfield was re-developed for the 1997 Island Games, the last time Jersey hosted the event.