The Madejski Stadium pitch was reseeded a couple of weeks ago, and our playing surface is growing back nice and quickly ahead of the upcoming 2009/10 season.

The surface has had a full overhaul this summer, as Groundsman Bruce Elliot explained to readingfc.co.uk, "The process started when the surface and all vegetation was removed by what is called a spiral rake.

"This exposes all of the Desso, which is the artificial grass, and removes all the organic matter around it.

"More than 80 tons of sand dressing was then put in, and the pitch was verti-drained, over-seeded and fed.

"Immediately after the feed, we covered the pitch with germination sheets for a week to help the growth.

"Two days after that we did our first cut, and we've cut the grass twice this week. For the first two weeks we use a rotary cut and then cylinder after that.

"Our first game is Graeme Murty's testimonial, and from seed to that game it will have been five weeks.

"Obviously a key aspect at the moment is watering and with the testimonial being earlier than we normally play pre-season we want to minimise the effects of that."