Åland’s most used pitch has been given new turf

Thanks to the heated artificial turf at Wiklöf Holding Arena, hundreds of children, young people and adults can train and play football all year round – 365 days a year.

Just over five years ago, the sensitive natural grass was replaced with artificial turf at WHA. Instead of being closed for large parts of the year, the pitch can now be used all year round, almost without interruption.

“Our two league teams, Åland United and IFK Mariehamn, play here, but the pitch is also used by other local clubs and visiting teams. Our biggest group of users, however, is youth football – 550 children and young people train here on a regular basis,” says Tove Viberg, Unit Manager for Mariehamn’s sports facilities.

Each year the pitch undergoes rigorous FIFA tests to ensure that it meets the requirements of the Finnish Football Association. In the summer of 2024, the old turf no longer passed the tests, which meant that the city had one year to replace it.

The old pitch gets a new life at a school

Thanks to funding from Paf, a new pitch could be installed at WHA in the summer of 2025, while the old but still fully functional turf was moved to Strandnäs school in northern Mariehamn.

“Although the old pitch is no longer approved for Finland’s top men’s league, it is still of high quality. Being able to replace two smaller sand and artificial turf fields with a large, modern pitch opens up new opportunities for training in Strandnäs, where it is now possible to play both full-size and seven-a-side football,” says Tove.

A long-lasting pitch that is gentler on the body

Tove explains that the replacement of the turf at WHA went beyond expectations and has been praised by both players and coaches. The new pitch is also much gentler on knees and joints, especially for male players who often weigh more and therefore experience greater problems on older, harder turf.

The previous artificial pitch lasted five years before needing replacement is a testament to the maintenance team – especially considering how heavily it has been used. Many pitches in the region need to be replaced after only three years. Still, Tove says the goal is that the new turf, financed with Paf funds, will last even longer.

“Our hope is that it will last at least a year longer than the old one, and we are looking at different ways to extend its lifespan.”