Undersoil heating can work but only if used with other forms of protection (covers on the pitch, hot air blowers etc). Outside the premiiership clubs just don't have the money to pay the massive costs involved for heating.
'Elf & Safety also have a bit of a say in the matter. I've seen local matches postponed, not because of the pitch, which has often been worked on by armies of volunteers to get it in a fit state to play on, but because snow and ice are covering the terraces and surrounding areas and it is deemed too dangerous for the public to be admitted. Once you get down to Div1, you don't have all seater stadiums - there are standing terraces where hundreds of people can be moving about.
I'm not a footie fan, I much prefer rugby and I agree there's nothing quite like a good muddy pitch for an entertaining game. At teh end of the day though, the officials have to think of the safety of players, supporters and themselves.
