Sheppey United manager Ernie Batten on the importance of 3G pitches for non-league teams – Ites back in action against Sevenoaks Town at Holm Park after several postponed away fixtures

Sheppey boss Ernie Batten shed a tear when they ripped up the grass at Holm Park but believes 3G pitches are a no-brainer in non-league football.

The Ites have endured a frustrating few weeks as just one game in the last four has beaten the weather - with away trips to Burgess Hill, Horndean and Beckenham all postponed because of waterlogged pitches.

There’s no such issue at Sheppey on their artificial surface, which makes life a lot easier, knowing fixtures are unlikely to be postponed. They return to Isthmian South East action at home to Sevenoaks Town on Saturday.

Batten said: “It is pretty much guaranteed (that the game will be on) and it’s fantastic to have that because you can plan everything and you know it’s going to be on and the club can plan as well.

“We know what staff we need, what we need on the bar and for the food. For a non-league club, if it’s affordable, to have one installed it is a no-brainer.

“Burgess Hill on Saturday, they had a lot of plans, advertising the game quite heavily and putting on entertainment. They were quite desperate to get the game on, but it was scuppered by the weather.

“We’ve not got TV revenue coming in, a lot of top-level clubs aren’t reliant on gates, but for non-league clubs, it’s all about gates and commercial activity and trying to enhance the revenue as best you can.

“More and more clubs are having the pitches installed but of course they are £500,000-£600,000 and that money needs to be raised before you can attempt it.

“To rip our grass pitch up was quite tearful but I don’t think we’ve looked back since and our gate against Merstham (on February 24) was nearly 700.

“Matt (Longhurst, the director of football) has come in and tried to follow the Ramsgate model and they are