One of the concepts in this world that really disturbs me is the idea that our venerable institution could ever be in any way superseded by Glamorgan Polytec… sorry, University.
It almost brought a salty tear to my eye, therefore, when I learnt that not only Glamorgan but also arch-rivals Swansea have got significantly better sporting facilities, including a rubber-crumb football pitch, the latest in skin punishing grass alternatives.
I never really had a problem with grass myself, it seems quite soft and smells good when you cut it. My experience of rubber crumb pitches however is a collection of painful if shallow skin lacerations and rubber crumbs on my bedroom floor. And not in a good way.
Yet, these arch-rivals of ours have one, and for this reason, and this reason alone, I want one. Not personally, clearly I have only enough money for a Subbuteo-sized pitch, but I really think Cardiff should get one.
Obviously, I would love to see the BUSA teams have somewhere to train all year round and rise up the leagues and it would be nice to have a kick around without sinking into the pitch. All advantages of such a rubber crumb arrangement.
I don’t particularly buy into the idea, however, that we are losing out on the country’s intellectual finest because we don’t invest in our sports facilities. To be honest, if you choose your university solely on the basis of how nice the football pitch is you are probably not exactly an Oxbridge quality student. Of course, it will sway some, but I can’t imagine the number will be that high.
Whatever else happens though, I’d be willing to stake that the university will fight tooth and claw against having to spend any money on the sports facilities. They’ll be utterly determined to spend it on their next Research Assessment Exercise, ‘cause that’s where the money and prestige lie. Expect more monographs that nobody reads and an exponential expansion in ugly building-side art. But don’t expect a rubber crumb pitch.
If you want a new football pitch as much, or more than I do, then get involved in the Invest in Sport Campaign by coming up to the union and seeing what you can do. Even if you don’t really play sport and spend your entire day reading the gair rhydd (a very commendable pastime) you should get behind it. If nothing else, it’ll annoy the Vice Chancellor and powers that be, an always worthwhile cause for the truly politically engaged student.
And, more importantly, we’ve got to keep up with the Jones’. Don’t want Glamorgan types looking down on us.
