The welcome installation of impressive new floodlights at the Pilot Field, following a series of fund raising activities and grant application, prompts a wider discussion regarding floodlit football. More recent supporters and club officials might appreciate a brief over view of the history of floodlighting both at a national level and also at the Pilot Field, following the recent installation.
The first recorded floodlit football match was at Bramall Lane Sheffield on October 14 1878, and was seen by many as a gimmick designed to demonstrate the advantages of the newly available electricity. The teams involved were both from Sheffield, as was the contractor who provided the lighting system. There was huge public interest with the official attendance reported as 12,000 with an estimated 7,000 gaining admission without paying. Bearing in mind that the Cup Final of 1878 attracted only 5,000 the turnout was quite extraordinary. The system involved lamps attached to 30 foot wooden towers, with an engine behind each goal driving dynamos. The experiment was not universally well received and when the experiment was repeated in London a commentator said “ Besides  who wants  to play football by artificial light? As a novelty, now and then…. But for the real purpose of the game, day light is quite good enough and long enough”
In August 1930 the FA decided to ban affiliated teams from playing under artificial light, the ban staying in force until 1950. There was growing acceptance of the inevitable, despite a brief dispute with the Players Union when  they decided not to play in any floodlight game.
Nearer to home at the Pilot Field, the first floodlight system was installed to support Speedway meetings rather than football and comprised in excess of 30 short metal  light stands located around the pitch. They were placed outside what was then a solid metal perimeter crash barrier. Each stand supported one light which was directed downwards to light the cinder track. The pitch did however benefit from some illumination around the edges, although the lighting quality was particularly poor at the centre of the pitch. The lights were powered by two diesel generators.
This did not deter the club from hosting a string of floodlight friendlies in the early 1950s, as Manager Jack Tresadern used his extensive contacts to lure representative teams from League Clubs in an endeavour to generate much needed revenue to keep the club afloat. In 1951 matches included Brentford, Bexhill, Eastbourne (2365) and Charlton (3045), Spurs, Gillingham (794), West Ham.
Fixtures later in the decade included competitive floodlight games and the cover of the match programme for the season 1958/59 include a photograph of the Pilot Field complete with lighting system.  Curiously the floodlit  Southern League Zone cup matches kicked off at 6.30pm that year. Increasingly teams refused to play competitive matches under the dismal lighting at the Pilot Field.
 Early in 1963/64 season a match programme confirmed “we are proceeding with our Floodlights, trying to do some of the work ourselves and we would be glad of any willing supporters to give a hand”. A new money raiser was launched, with the 2/6 (12.5p) stake lasting the full season with a £10 prize every week. The cause was helped by the Isobel Blackman Fund, with the fund donating £1 for every £1 raised by the club. There was talk of a grand opening match against Chelsea (which never materialised) but instead the first full floodlit match was against Bexley United in the Southern League Cup on 1 January 1964 with Miss Blackman switching on the lights. Supporters appreciated a standardised 3pm kick off time on Saturdays and the inconvenience of a mid week kick off against Romford on a Wednesday afternoon at 4.15pm was a thing of the past!  Despite the inconvenience 1402 attended.
In May 1964 the Hastings Observer reported the final cost of this installation reporting that the cost was just over £3,954 of which United paid £1,000 in October 1963. They subsequently made ten annual payments of £236 to the Council.
When it was decided that the floodlights needed to be upgraded in 1977/78 fundraising began in earnest.  Sheffield United visited the Pilot Field in February and were defeated by a single goal. That night, 1310 supporters watched Barry Salvage score the winner, the match raising some £250 towards the required amount. December 1980 saw the new lights officially switched on with a visit from Coventry City. The First Division side edged a rain spoiled match by the odd goal in three. The pylons from the 1960s had been retained but new lighting located on them. The cost of the upgrade was eventually £7000 with the Mayor, Councillor Bernard Spray throwing the switch. Ernie Batten scored United’s goal.
So that brings us virtually up to date around the history of something that we all take pretty much for granted.

Roger Sinden