How Design & Engineering Have Changed Football Since 1863

1855THEN 1855 1862 1868

18781870 18781878 1889

19051905 19301905 1950

19561955 19891967 1989

In each corner, an 8,000-candle-power

lamp and reflector were placed on 10-yard high

wooden platforms.

19901990 20142013 NOW

1863

The first pitches could be up to 200 yards long by

100 yards wide.

There were no markings, but flags

designated the corners.

Goalposts were set 8 yards apart.

1902

THE TECHNOLOGY BEHIND THE WORLD’S GAME

Every year, athletic companies are sure to inform us of the latest advances in boot and ball technology, but what about the history of other

technological advancements that make football kick?

THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (FA) WAS FORMED IN ENGLAND MARKING THE BEGINNING OF MODERN FOOTBALL/SOCCER.

THE PLAYING FIELD

1863

1981 1994

1996

2001 2010

1927

2005

2010

1937

1969

2014

1980s-90s

The first association game—a scoreless draw—was played on the grass pitch of Barnes Common in London between Barnes Football

Club and Richmond Football Club.

19 DECEMBER

Queens Park Rangers FC in London laid the first artificial turf pitch in professional football at their home stadium, Loftus Road. Three other clubs, Luton Town FC, Oldham Athletic AFC and Preston North End FC follow suit.

Second generation artificial turf with rubber and sand infill below the fibers was developed.

Eventually these side effects persuaded early adopters to return to natural grass.

The early artificial surfaces caused:- rug burns during slide tackles- the ball to bounce more than on grass- poor footing- joint injuries

Hybrid grass systems featuring millions of synthetic fibers injected into natural grass pitches were developed.

Galpharm Stadium, home of Huddersfield Town AFC in Huddersfield, England was the first to install the Desso GrassMaster hybrid system.

Today, hybrid systems are used at world class stadiums around the world, including Wembley Stadium in London.

Third generation artificial turf featuring individual fibers of 40mm or more implanted into a base of rubber granules laid over silica sand was developed.

This next generation turf allows:- more natural ball play- softer cleat impact- reduced friction burning

Desso hybrid systems were used at Mbombela Stadium and Peter Mokaba Stadium in South Africa—marking the first time hybrid pitches were used at football’s premier event.

A Desso hybrid system will be used at the Arena de São Paulo in São Paulo Brazil.

CAD plays a vital role in developing the testing equipment that ensures all hybrid grass systems and artificial surfaces comply with safety standards

fifa.comtopendsports.comthefa.comdrcdurham.capitchmarkltd.comfootball-league.co.uksyntheticturfcouncil.orgbooks.google.comdessosports.complayground-landscape.com

isss-sportsurfacescience.orgemirates247.compitchcare.comstadiumguide.comchrishobbs.comfootysphere.comworldstadiums.comdalyhistory.wordpress.comfootballsite.co.ukbbc.co.uk

live-fotballontv.comlifehacker.comcomplex.comcisco.comessg.orgnrc.nlprnewswire.co.ukartificialgrass.inforeuters.comhtafc.comsportsillustrated.cnn.com

SOURCES

The first live media broadcast of a football match. The BBC radio broadcast Arsenal FC vs. Sheffield United FC at Arsenal’s Highbury stadium in London.

Highbury also hosted the first televised match—played between Arsenal’s first and reserve teams.

The BBC again pushed the envelope, broadcasting the first match in color—played between Liverpool FC and West Ham United FC at Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England.

The BBC streamed Liverpool FC vs. São Paulo FC in the 2005 Club World Championship final online. By 2006, streaming of football’s premier games was commonplace.

Arsenal’s match versus Manchester United FC at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium was broadcast by Sky as the first 3D TV football broadcast.

A 1-yard radius quarter circle was

also added from the corner flag posts.

AT THE GAME

MARKING THE PITCH

1937

The 10-yard radius penalty arc was added

outside the penalty area.

Goal lines, touch lines, and halfway lines were

all marked.

1863The first games (and many today) were played on natural grass. But artificial and hybrid surfaces are used as well.

1960David Chaney headed a team of Research Triangle Park researchers who invented the first artificial turf.

1965-6AstroTurf was invented by chemical company Monsanto and installed prior to the 1966 season in the Houston Astrodome Major League Baseball stadium in Houston, Texas—the first use of a synthetic surface in professional sports.

Bramall Lane in Sheffield, England opened as a

cricket stadium.

Prior to the advent of 3D CAD, stadium design was basic at best and unsafe

at worst

Bramall Lane hosted its first football match.

Sheffield United FC was founded and

moved into Bramall Lane where it still

plays home matches.

In October, Bramall hosted the first ever

floodlit football match. Twenty thousand people

attended.

Behind each goal, a portable engine

powered two Siemen’s dynamo machines to run

the lamps.

Roofs were added in some stadiums to

cover terraces.

Early stadiums had rudimentary facilities with

few seating areas.

Terraces were built on concrete or other fill after the wooden ones at Ibrox

Stadium in Glasgow, Scotland collapsed in 1902 and killed

25 and injured 517.

Floodlit football was banned in England

by The FA.

The floodlit ban was lifted in 1950,

illuminating the possibility for night

matches.

Increasing TV coverage spurred stadium

designers to add more toilets and better views

to compete with the urge to stay home.

The Hillsborough disaster—a crush of fans

in the pens—at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield England killed

96 fans.

Dramatic safety revisions followed with large portions of English

stadiums converted to seating to prevent

overcrowding.

All top-level English clubs were playing at

least some games under the lights.

DID YOU KNOW?Bramall Lane is the

world’s oldest stadium still hosting football

matches.

CAD continues to improve safety and

creates new amenities, such as wi-fi access and giant LED HD screens.

Dramatic renovations to

existing stadium included more

creature comforts.

Across Europe, restaurants were added, and safety and comfort

became a priority.

Goal-line tech will be used in Brazil with

pushes to add it to more domestic leagues.

Englands’ Premier League became the first

domestic league to require installation of

goal-line technology in all stadiums.

TODAY

Officially sanctioned pitches today can be 100-130 yards long by 50-100 yards wide.

THE GAME AT H ME

INNOVATIONS IN STADIUM DESIGN

The equipment broadcasting the contest, your television, your furniture, and your fridge are just a few of the countless products that benefit from design software. Your enjoyment of this match was made possible by CAD.

From simulating field conditions and equipment to engineering designing systems and stadium amenities, 3D CAD is the premier technology that

keeps football at the top of its game.