"Training and home matches are guaranteed to proceed. And what is perhaps even more important:
since laying the pitch our players’ injuries are significantly reduced."
General Manager of Umeå IK Roland Arnqvist
In Norrland (in the North of Sweden) the snow can stay on the ground for over 150 days a year. If you know that the snow can be up to 80 centimetres thick, a heating system under the football field is not an unnecessary luxury. The installation of a clever heating system under the artificial turf of the Gammliavallen stadium was anything but a piece of cake.
The Gammliavallen-stadium in the Swedish province of Västerbotten is the home base of the men’s and the women’s football team in Umeå. The women’s team is at the very top in the world. Since the formation of the club the women’s first eleven team has already won the Swedish women’s football final in eight seasons and has won the title five times. The Swedish team is also puts up a good fight in the UEFA Women’s Cup. The club won the Cup twice, in 2002-2003 and 2003-2004. Not only Swedish top footballers play in the black-yellow top team, but also internationals from Norway, Finland and Brazil.
Football all year round
Cancelled training and home games as a result of bad weather…the Umeå team had had enough of it. In 2003 Desso Sports Systems and its Swedish partner Spentab joined forces for the renovation of the pitch of the Gammliavallen stadium. The artificial turf chosen was Desso Match and an adapted heating system was installed in the foundation. Football could be played all year round again in Umeå. "It is an advantage to be able to play and train on the same field at all times", says General Manager of Umeå IK Roland Arnqvist. "It is great that Gammliavallen is now our home base for all the fixtures and in all circumstances. Training and home matches are guaranteed to proceed. And what is perhaps even more important: since laying the pitch our players’ injuries are significantly reduced," concludes Arnqvist.
Total solution
The Spentab-heating system combined with the Desso-artificial turf offers a total solution that makes it possible to practice multiple sports at the same location. In that way Gammliavallen is equipped for athletics and football. Even cross-country skiing competitions finish here. The stadium has capacity for 10 000.
