Everton FC have been training on an artificial pitch in Widnes to help ready them for their game with Young Boys.The Blues travel to Switzerland on Wednesday ahead of Thursday night’s Europa League last 32 first leg tie.
Young Boys use a synthetic surface at their Stade du Suisse home in Berne and Everton boss Roberto Martinez said his side must “adapt quickly” to playing on an unfamiliar pitch.
But to help the Blues squad get ready for the tie, Martinez has put the players through their paces this week at the home of Widnes Vikings Rugby League on their ‘i-Pitch’, it is understood.
The artificial surface was installed in 2012 and also plays host to Everton Ladies’ home matches.
After being drawn to face the Swiss side, Martinez said: “I’ve seen Young Boys a lot because I have been interested to see how they adapt to playing on artificial turf.
“That is something we need to adapt quickly to.
“They use it to very good effect and their home results in the Europa League were outstanding. They were only second to Napoli on goal difference. They beat Napoli 2-0 at home so we are going to play a strong, energetic team full of young legs in a team that is well structured and well organised.
“It is going to be a really exciting tie.”
Young Boys laid the synthetic surface in June of last year after two-and-a-half seasons playing on natural grass.
German company Polytan supplied the pitch with the Swiss side now said to have the use of the “latest generation of synthetic turf”.
Everton’s opponents have won all five of their home games in this season’s Europa League, from the third qualifying round through to the group stage, and only lost twice at home in the Swiss Super League this term.
And locals says the side are playing their most attractive brand of football in years.
“Switching over to synthetic turf allows us to improve the general conditions considerably and helps us more than ever to pursue our two main aims: sporting success with YB and a profitable overall business,” Alain Kappeler, chief executive of the club, said.
FIFA have given the LigaTurf RS Pro CoolPlus surface in Berne their ‘2 Star’ award and allow international football to be played there.
Young Boys’ academy teams regularly train on the pitch that is likely to last between 10-15 years before needing to be replaced.
But the pitch is understood to have come at relatively low cost, with Young Boys said to have paid no more than £150,000 to have it installed.
“The synthetic turf is the right decision for BSC Young Boys and the Stade de Suisse,” said Young Boys director Fredy Bickel.
“It gives us far better training facilities for the first team, the U21s and the U18s.”
Everton laid a hybrid surface at Goodison in the summer of 2013 to the cost of £1m and the same company, DESSO, also supplied the artificial pitch at Widnes.
By Phil Kirkbride, Liverpool Echo
