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For the tenth time in just three years Wembley is about to have its pitch relaid. The £90,000 refit was the "reality of a multi purpose venue" according to the Football Association - but, barring recent matches, a major event has not been held at the venue since a rugby league game three weeks ago. Pitch conditions were heavily criticised after last Sunday's Carling Cup Final and the midweek international This came despite a protective cover before the Carling Cup final during heavy rainfall. An FA spokesman told the Times: "The ground staff did very well to stage the Carling Cup, despite around 80mm of rain in the week with a further 40mm the night before the match, and they used a canopy to shield the pitch from the rain on Saturday night and on Sunday. They worked round the clock and could not have done more. "Conditions were better ahead of the England match but the pitch was still not good enough for our liking. Ultimately it has not fared well through what has been an extremely harsh winter and it needs to be replaced. The stadium caters for football and non-football events, so replacing the pitch more than once a year is the reality of a multipurpose venue." Last year the FA sacked Wembley Head Groundsman following criticism of pitch by Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and England Coach Fabio Capello. Fingers will be crossed for the £798m venues next event, the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Final on 28 March 2010. Garden experts have, in the past, commented on the amount of sunlight, rather the lack of, that gets to the playing surface.
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