How Everton FC led the way again when freezing temperatures threatened fixtures in 1958

08 December 2010 00:00
Everton's under-soil heating being installed [LNB]PLUNGING temperatures across the nation have already claimed one Premier League fixture, but Goodison Park is safe from the frost thanks to a spot of forward thinking more than 50 years ago.[LNB]Always renowned for being a forward thinking club, Goodison was one of the world's first purpose built football grounds, the Toffees became the first club in England to install under-soil heating in 1958.[LNB]Back then the freezing conditions gripping Merseyside would have led to most football matches being postponed.[LNB]The ground would have been too hard and too dangerous to play on, and fans would have been left frustrated as the weather took its toll on their favourite pastime.[LNB] However, Everton changed the winter fixture schedule forever by installing under-soil heating, and these photographs from the fascinating Everton Collection show how the process gradually took place.[LNB]The first attempt was in May 1958, but that initial system of electric heating wires proved to be a problem, as the drains could not cope with the excess water on the pitch and the official club minute books state: '...the pitch was in a very bad state owing to excessive water staying on the surface, and not draining through, leaving large patches of slush...'[LNB]It was clearly going to represent a problem to this new, and costly technology as time went on, so in December 1959 an Emergency Meeting was held in response to the poor condition of the pitch.

Source: Liverpool_Echo