Newly promoted Premiership club confirm new plastic surface for new season | OneFootball

Livingston FC have announced that they will replace their plastic pitch at the Set Fare Arena next season. The newly promoted Premiership side confirmed on Monday afternoon that they would lay down a new synthetic pitch ahead of the new campaign, which they aim to have in place before next season’s Premier Sports Cup.

Livi secured promotion to the top flight after a 5-3 aggregate win over Ross County. The Staggies went 2-0 up on the night before Martindale’s side responded with four goals without answer to bring them back to the Premiership. This means that Celtic will require to visit the West Lothian club at least once next season as they look to win 5IAR.

In a statement released by the club, Livi confirmed that they would be installing an MX Elite playing surface, which is currently utilised by other SPFL clubs.

“We’re pleased to confirm that we’ll have a new artificial playing surface installed here at the Home of the Set Fare Arena ahead of the 2025/26 season.

“The club has been working hard behind the scenes over the last few weeks and months to put the planning in place and source the funds to make this possible.

Livingston v Celtic – cinch Premiership – Tony Macaroni Arena Celtic’s  Daizen Maeda scores Copyright: Jeff Holmes

“The new surface itself is the latest generation of MX Elite – a high-tech woven system offering the very best performance characteristics for professional football, the same currently used by a number of other sides at all levels of the SPFL.

“We’re hopeful that this will be completed and ready ahead of the Premier Sports Cup group stage matches starting in mid-July but should that change, we’ll update you all accordingly with any change of venue for those opening home ties.”

The result is the Playoff means that there will be three Premiership teams next season with plastic pitches after Falkirk joined Kilmarnock in the top flight. The disappointing factor in the relegation of both St Johnstone and Ross County, notwithstanding the geography of the two teams, is that two decent grass pitches are lost to be replaced with two plastic pitches, which are often conducive towards poor games of football.

Teams have recognised this, resulting in the vote to outlaw plastic pitches from the 2026/27 season. Killie have confirmed that they will have a plastic pitch until the ban comes in while there has been no update from Falkirk, who pipped Livi to the Championship title. The Bairns feel aggrieved at the potential expense of laying down a grass pitch. The league should offer assistance to teams that require to put down a grass pitch if they struggle to do so themselves.