MARTIN FERRY has his own thoughts on the great ‘plastic pitch’ debate – but he’d rather concentrate on keeping his Renfrew side top of the table.

Frew opened New Western Park at the start of this season, and the 4G playing surface was the talk of the steamie amongst supporters.

Ferry – co-boss with Colin Clark – is one of those ‘traditionalists’ who reckons football should be played on grass, but he insists the club’s new surface has changed his mind – if only a wee bit.

Meanwhile, he was delighted with the latest success – a 2-1 win over St Anthony’s – although Frew left it late to snatch all three points.

He told Times Sport: “It wasn’t the best of games. The Ants are fighting for their lives and we’re looking for points to stay top, so it was one of those typical top versus bottom matches.

“It was quite similar to Vale of Clyde’s visit. They are the only team to win in the league at our new ground, and it was one of those days when absolutely everything went wrong.

“That was the way the game against the Ants was heading and it’s difficult to guard against it because sometimes it just happens. You won’t always be at your best, and all it takes is for the Ants to be on top of their game, but thankfully we managed to get the win, although it took a late goal to get us the points.”

Patrick O’Keefe had scored for Frew earlier on, but there were only three minutes left on the clock when former Yoker striker Darren Jones got on the end of a good ball in from the right to knock it home.

Ferry said: “I was convinced the winner would come – eventually – and thankfully it did. It was all about us keeping our composure, and Darren’s cool finish was the difference between the two teams. We had that wee bit of quality.”

The result means Frew stay top, a point ahead of Wishaw, who have played a game less, and managerless Rossvale, who are seven points behind but with three games in hand.

It has been a fantastic first season at New Western Park, so far, and Ferry is hoping it continues.

He said: “The new ground has been brilliant for us. We predicted way back last season that it would help us attract decent players and it has done exactly that.

“Mind you, I have never been a big supporter of all-weather surfaces. I’m old fashioned as I think football should be played on grass, but needs must.

“In this country, and with our climate, it has to be the way forward. But what I will say is that our park is the best synthetic surface I have ever been on, and that includes the likes of Toryglen and Ralston [St Mirren’s training ground].

“And that’s down to our committee for the way they maintain it. We have a couple of committee members who went on a course to learn the best way of looking after it, and they brush it down regularly. It’s immaculate.

“I didn’t play senior, but I played at the top level of semi-professional on parks that have to be up there with the best at senior level, and to me grass will always be number one.

“But we lost about 14 or 15 weeks last season at Renfrew due to the weather. It was shocking, so if synthetic surfaces get you playing every week then that’ll do for me.

“Junior clubs can’t afford to miss large chunks of the season. Financially, it isn’t viable to go three months without any revenue. If you tally up the figures, it’s a massive blow to any junior club.”

Ferry added: “Our pitch is an investment for the club, and we haven’t had any real injuries on it so far. Our players absolutely love it. The youngsters are growing up with 4G pitches and that’s what they’re used to playing on week in, week out.

“It’s a different era. Surfaces, the way we play the game, different coloured boots etc. You need to move with the times, and that’s the beauty of having the new stadium. The amount of stuff we’re doing on it now is unbelievable. It’s definitely ‘growing’ on me!”