29th May 2020
S&C Slatter are thrilled to receive confirmation that the 3G Artificial Turf Pitch we constructed at Eastbourne Borough FC has retained its FIFA Quality Pro certification, for the fifth time in a row.
S&C Slatter and FieldTurf are a proven, winning partnership, working with a number of clubs in the professional and semi-professional football pyramid including Everton FC, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, Queens Park Rangers FC, Burnley FC, Swindon Town FC and AFC Newtown.
In fact, S&C Slatter has been selected to deliver more stadia 3G Pitches to the elite levels of non-league football than any other:
And of course … Eastbourne Borough FC!
S&C Slatter were contracted by Eastbourne Borough FC back in 2016 to deliver a cutting-edge 3G pitch in time for their new season in the National League South.
Following the initial groundworks, a lateral drainage system was introduced followed by a fully engineered sub-base. An in-situ bound e-layer performance base was then laid, finished with the installation of the market leading Vertex 3G artificial turf, manufactured by our partners FieldTurf, FIFA Quality Preferred Producers.
Once construction was completed, the pitch was certified to the league’s requirement of the FIFA Quality Pro performance standard.
The pitch has been successfully re-certified each year and has just received it’s 5th FIFA Quality Pro certification – consistently delivering to the high performance and safety standards required for professional football.
As with all of our clients, Eastbourne Borough FC selected S&C Slatter based on our commitment to providing value for money. We’ll never promote a quick-fix, cheap solution that won’t deliver in the long term.
Our experienced team carefully consider the high level of cost involved for the investor and work to ensure the best possible return on investment over the lifespan of the facility.
S&C Slatter work exclusively in England and Wales with FIFA Preferred Producers FieldTurf, who have delivered 295 certified fields worldwide.
The FIFA Preferred Producer initiative was introduced in 2009 to protect the interests of consumers when purchasing pitches and to ensure that football turf pitches meet the highest requirements with regard to quality, performance and safety.
Working with a FIFA Preferred Producer and their construction partners will give you peace of mind that your football pitch will deliver to the standards laid out by FIFA, in terms of performance, longevity, durability and safety.
Choosing to work without a FIFA Preferred Producer will give you no such guarantee. Delivering football pitches to FIFA standards requires expertise and experience across both pitch construction and turf manufacture.
Poorly designed and constructed pitches can lead to compromised surface levels and issues with drainage. There are many risks involved with inexperienced contractors, such as the use of unsuitable materials in base and sub-base construction, poorly executed groundworks or incorrect installation of the artificial turf.
Using artificial turf manufactured by a non-FIFA Preferred Producer will prevent you from being able to achieve FIFA Quality or FIFA Quality Pro certification and could result in a surface that is not fit for use, leading to a costly replacement.
Get in touch with us to discuss your new football pitch.
FIFA Quality Pro and FIFA Quality are the two available FIFA certifications that recognise a top performing surface for football. Both require laboratory and on-pitch testing, to ensure a 3G football pitch meets the standards set out by FIFA.
The testing scheme was developed by FIFA for artificial surfaces, specifically focusing on the needs of football players.
“Only artificial turf playing surfaces that have been tested in accordance with the FIFA Quality Programme test criteria in the laboratory and on the pitch can be called football turf.
This name means that those systems are specifically designed to meet the requirements necessary for football in terms of playing performance, safety, durability and quality assurance”
Football turf pitches that meet the FIFA Quality Programme requirements are awarded either the FIFA Quality or FIFA Quality Pro Mark:
Combining a stringent regime of durability, resistance, safety and performance tests, pitches that are awarded the FIFA Quality mark fulfil the specific requirements for recreational, community and municipal football, with typically 40-60 playing hours per week.
Tested every 3 years.
Pitches with the FIFA Quality Pro mark are specifically tested to mimic the high performance and safety requirements for professional football for a typical usage of up to 20 playing hours per week.
Tested annually.
We’re thrilled that the 3G pitch we constructed at Eastbourne Borough Football Club is continuing to deliver to FIFA Quality Pro standards, and look forward to the new season starting – hopefully in the not too distant future!
Guarantee your peace of mind by working with a team that has delivered over 150 football pitches.
S&C Slatter and FIFA Preferred Producers FieldTurf have partnered to deliver FIFA Quality Pro and FIFA Quality football pitches across the country, including Queen’s Park Rangers, Maidstone United and Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate.
Get in touch with our team for a free consultation.
