It’s a question many clubs want to know the answer to. One way is to ask an independent expert, like Labosport, to perform tests on behalf of global governing sports bodies such as FIFA, World Rugby, ITF, FIH and ECB. S&C Slatter constructed pitches pass these tests year in year out.
So what other metrics are there to measure the quality of work, timescales and customer experience that sports clubs encounter when constructing a new 3G pitch?
At S&C Slatter we are committed to honesty, transparency, and collaborative working with our customers to achieve their goals on time and on budget.
Our in house teams – spanning design, planning, construction, and maintenance – are united in their mission to deliver superb facilities with first class client service.
We are proud to have been selected by many of our customers to deliver subsequent new construction, renovation, and refurbishment projects.
Paul Doswell, the longest serving manager in English football’s top five divisions, knows what it takes to succeed. Paul specified an S&C Slatter pitch for Sutton United and, based on his experience and the clubs success, asked S&C Slatter build a new 3G pitch at his current club Havant and Waterlooville.
A trailblazer, Doswell was behind the switch to a 3G artificial turf Stadia Pitch at Sutton, delivered in a tight 8-week schedule by S&C Slatter in the summer of 2015.
S&C Slatter’s cutting-edge 3G Pitch and Paul Doswell’s leadership proved to be a winning combination for the club, who went on to win the National League South in the season that followed, earning Sutton United promotion to the National League, where they have competed since, on their S&C Slatter pitch.
After 11 years of success with Sutton United, Doswell made the tough decision to take up a new challenge as Manager of Havant & Waterlooville FC in 2019.
Ready to do it all again, Doswell didn’t hesitate to partner once more with S&C Slatter to deliver a top of the range 3G Stadia Pitch for his new club. When asked about the new pitch, Doswell commented to the Portsmouth News:
“We have gone for the best one we could have had. We’re using the same company that we used at Sutton, S&C Slatter in Newbury. They are the best quality firm around.”
It’s this level of quality and trust that has cemented S&C Slatter as the leading contractor for non-league football, delivering the highest number of FIFA Quality Pro 3G Stadia Pitches to clubs within the National League system, including Harrogate, Billericay and Eastbourne FC.
As Doswell noted in the same interview, quality is worth paying for, and his time at Sutton United has proven this. The team famously reached the 5th round of the FA Cup for the first time in their history in 2017, facing off against Arsenal on the new surface at their Gander Green Lane Ground. Doswell and their top-of-the-range pitch saw Sutton United to their highest ever finish of 3rd place in the National League in 2018.
“They’re not the cheapest, in fact they’re one of the most expensive, but with artificial pitches you get what you pay for”.
Despite Paul’s success at Sutton United, the new pitch at Havant & Waterlooville wasn’t necessarily an easy sell. The new pitch was delivered in spite of, and in some ways because of, the Coronavirus outbreak.
Hawks director Trevor Brock admitted that not everyone was on board with the move to artificial turf, stating that:
“[Paul Doswell] was the initial driver of this idea, but recently the driver has been COVID. We’ve had no gate money coming in, the pub has been shut, sponsorship is harder to come by. We have had to look at new revenue streams – that’s what has driven this now.”
“We’ve had a few games on 3G Pitches this season and you forget the technology is so good…for clubs at our level, it’s a no brainer once you start looking at it.”
The new state-of-the-art 3G Stadia Pitch was officially unveiled at Westleigh Park during the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday 9th October 2020. The first game of the season took place the following day, Saturday 10th October, where the Hawks faced off against Maidstone United.
S&C Slatter were thrilled to work again with Paul on this exciting new era of football for Havant & Waterlooville, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for Hawks with another combination of Doswell’s management and our leading 3G pitch technology.
S&C Slatter are the leading contractor for non-league football 3G Stadia Pitches.
We have delivered more pitches to the highest levels of non-league football than any other.
We’re committed to providing first-class pitches for top performance, maximum use and longevity, with the certifications and success rate to prove it.
With in-house expertise across design, planning, construction and maintenance, get in touch now to discuss your needs. Call 01635 34521or email info@sandcslatter.com
