When you think of 3G pitches, you might think first of football or rugby, where 3G pitches are commonly utilised at the very highest levels of each game, for training and match play.
3G artificial turf technology provides for more than just these two sports alone however, including those less commonly played in the UK, such as American Football.
We were thrilled to see a recent report on BBC Sport showcasing a rising star in American Football, Freddie Pelling, training with the NFL Academy in London on a 3G Pitch constructed by S&C Slatter.
The 3G Pitch was delivered for Haringey Borough Council and is situated at the New River Sport & Fitness Centre on White Hart Lane. While the pitch is available for rugby and football hire, it’s great to see the NFL Academy utilising the pitch to train Britain’s rising stars in the world of American Football.
The video report, filmed on the 3G pitch constructed by S&C Slatter, can be viewed here. The report features former American Football greats Jason Bell and Osi Umenyiora and highlights the NFLs Academy’s use of the pitch for its elite training programme. Congratulations to Freddie, who has received two offers to play college football at Division 1 level – from The University of Akron and none other than Ivy League college, Brown University!
3G artificial grass pitches are most commonly constructed for football or rugby and must meet specific performance and safety standards for FIFA or World Rugby certification.
3G pitches for football can be used for match play up to Tier 5 in England (National League) and all levels of Welsh and Scottish Football – though the majority of England’s Premiership teams also use 3G pitches for training, such as Everton FC.
3G pitches for rugby are allowed for both match play and training at all levels of the RFU and RFL.
While commonly constructed for these two sports, 3G pitches are versatile and can also be used for sports such as lacrosse, American football and Gaelic athletics.
We’re proud to support the growth of American football players in the UK, not only through the pitch used by the NFL Academy. Other 3G pitches for American football we’ve constructed include those at Coventry Rugby Club, The University of Kent and Royal Holloway University.
If you’re looking to construct a 3G pitch and would like advice on which artificial turf system would be best for your chosen sport(s) get in touch with our experts.
Call 01635 34521 or email info@sandcslatter.com
Whether you refer to it as ‘uncertain’ or ‘unprecedented’, 2020 has not been an ordinary year. As vaccines and the hope of the new year draw closer, we thought we’d take the opportunity to focus on the positive and reflect on our work over the last 12 months, despite the challenges brought about by the pandemic.
Here’s our roundup of just what we got up to in 2020:
Following a successful 2019, which saw the company grow substantially overnight with the acquisition of White Horse Contractors by The Slatter Group, S&C Slatter made a number of new hires and changes to the company structure.
We announced the appointment of Ben O’Connor as the new Managing Director of S&C Slatter, with David Slatter moving into the role of CEO of The Slatter Group. We also welcomed a number of new faces to S&C Slatter across Surfacing & Civils, Design & Planning, Sales & Estimation, Purchasing and Health & Safety teams.
S&C Slatter have worked in closely with Tarkett Sports over the past seven years through our exclusive relationship with leading artificial turf manufacturer FieldTurf, across England and Wales.
In November we were excited to announce our exclusive new partnership with world-leading athletics track manufacturer Beynon Sports, a member of the Tarkett Sports Group.
Demonstrating our commitment to designing and constructing world-class facilities with the very best sports surface producers, the announcement came with the commencement of construction on two Class I World Athletics tracks in a prestigious project that will continue into 2021.
Meanwhile our sister company, White Horse Contractors, caused a stir in the elite sports market with the announcement of an exciting new partnership with pioneering hybrid sports turf manufacturer GrassMaster Solutions, another member of the Tarkett Sports Group.
Earlier in the year, we celebrated 5 years of partnership with Freedom Leisure, the non-for-profit-leisure trust for whom we deliver 180 maintenance visits annually.
We were also delighted to be re-selected, with our exclusive artificial turf partners FieldTurf, to the Football Foundation AGP framework 2020-2024, following a successful four year term from 2015-2019.
All divisions of S&C Slatter were kept busy this year, with projects varying in size and scope – from small refurbishments for local schools to state of the art facilities constructed for global performance – our team have been kept on their toes!
Here are some of our favourite projects of 2020:
Our hard-working maintenance division delivered routine preventative maintenance, ad-hoc repairs and specialist deep cleans to maximise the performance, safety and lifespan of sports facilities across the UK.
Although the construction industry was allowed to stay open during the first national lockdown in March, our senior management team took the decision to cease construction on all sites for a 3-week period.
The decision was made to protect the NHS as well as staff across The Slatter Group, while new health and safety measures could be identified and implemented.
Only when the situation became clearer and these procedures were in place did work slowly begin to re-commence, starting with a handful of carefully selected sites to ensure that new health and safety measures would be successful.
Like all companies in 2020, we have had to quickly adapt to ever changing rules and advice. Microsoft Teams may have replaced face-to-face meetings, kitchens may have become offices but our dedication to producing first class workmanship has only strengthened, with our dedication to customer service and team spirit very much alive!
Thank you to all of our staff, partners and clients for working with us during this extra-ordinary year. Here’s to a brighter 2021!
With our extensive in-house expertise across design, planning, construction and maintenance, S&C Slatter are your one-stop-shop for first-class sporting facilities.
We’re committed to producing facilities that are designed and built for top performance, maximum use and longevity.
Get in touch now.
Call 01635 34521 or email info@sandcslatter.com
S&C Slatter are thrilled to announce that our Group Director, Jason Douglass, has been elected as the new Chair of SAPCA, the Sports and Play Construction Association, for a two-year term.
After joining the 12-strong SAPCA Board as Chair of the Pitch and Track Division in 2019, Jason represented the views and opinions of Pitch and Track Division members, helping to support the implementation of SAPCA’s Strategic Review.
Of his new role as Chair, Jason commented:
“I’m pledging my commitment, my time and my energy to do the very best I can in this important role. My vision for SAPCA is deliberate change and progression – built on the foundations of an already strong association.
Ultimately, I want SAPCA to be at the front of mind when architects, consultants, local authorities and estate managers are looking to procure sports and play facilities.
I want each SAPCA member to feel they are in an advantageous position over competitors who aren’t SAPCA members.”
Chris Trickey, Chief Executive, SAPCA added:
“I have no doubt that Jason’s considerable experience and knowledge of the sector will enable him to be a great champion for the sports and play industry, and that his ambition for the Association will certainly help to strengthen SAPCA during the next two years.”
Jason was elected as Chair at the Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 15th December, 2020, replacing outgoing chair Andy Reed OBE, who added:
“I’m sure I speak for everyone associated with SAPCA when I say that I look forward to Jason leading SAPCA in its next stage of development… I think Jason will ensure a very strong strategic direction for SAPCA, which stems from his passion for the sector.”
SAPCA is the Trade Association for UK Sports and Play Construction, working towards building an active nation with a goal to “ensure that every project meets the customer’s expectations, is designed, built and maintained to last, whilst delivering excellent value for money.”
Find out more about Jason’s appointment on the SAPCA website.
We at S&C Slatter know first-hand the strength of Jason’s leadership and expertise, as well as the importance of SAPCA to the sports construction industry, supporting both members and customers. The appointment marks an exciting time for the sports industry and for SAPCA, who will undoubtedly continue to champion best practice, innovation and education under Jason’s leadership.
If you’d like to learn more about Jason’s new role as SAPCA Chair, or are simply looking for guidance on a sports construction project then please get in touch.
S&C Slatter were delighted to work together with Group Partners White Horse Contractors to deliver two new natural turf pitches for football at Wimborne Town Football Club in November.
Following the successful relocation of Ringmer AFC earlier this year, we were thrilled to work on another relocation project for Wimborne FC and property developers Wyatt Homes.
Wyatt Homes approached The Magpies with the proposition of purchasing their existing Cuthbury ground for residential development, with the proceeds funding a new purpose-built facility at an alternative site.
The new ground at Parmiter Drive features one natural turf stadia pitch for match play and one natural turf pitch for training, both constructed to Sport England Type 5 build specification.
S&C Slatter were contracted to deliver the new ground, with the client benefitting from our dedicated in-house teams across both S&C Slatter and our group partners White Horse Contractors, to take care of design, pitch construction and ancillary works.
Our specialist Design & Planning team created the site-wide design and layout for the club’s new ground to The FA’s Sports Ground Grading C specification, suitable for football in the National League System.
White Horse Contractors’ in-house engineers and CAD experts produced the technical design and construction programme for the two natural turf pitches, delivering the construction of the pitches on site to Sport England Type 5 specification.
To round off the project, S&C Slatter’s dedicated Surfacing & Civils division took care of ancillary footpath construction as well as fencing and floodlighting for the two pitches.
In a recent interview with the Bournemouth Echo, club patron Harry Redknapp commented:
“To see a stadium like this for a non-league club is beyond belief really. It’s top draw. I had been to the old ground… but this ground is another level. It makes you want to play football again.”
Despite poor weather and the disruption caused by the coronavirus crisis, our teams worked to deliver the project on time, and to the PQS standards set out by the client.
White Horse Contractors utilised a custom-build specialist mobile irrigation system to cut the growing in time for the pitch by 50%, to overcome the time lost due to COVID-19 – and the Great British weather!
After more than 100 years at their old ground, we’re excited to see what the next hundred years holds for Wimborne FC and hope to see the ground put to great use for developing football in Wimborne in the next season and beyond.
For more information call 01635 34521 or email enquiries@slattersportsconstruction.com
S&C Slatter sister company White Horse Contractors have announced an exciting new partnership with hybrid turf manufacturers GrassMaster Solutions, part of the Tarkett Sports Group.
With a heritage built over 60 years, White Horse Contractors are a leading name in natural turf sports construction. Combining their design and construction expertise with GrassMaster Solutions’ market leading technology brings an outstanding hybrid sports pitch proposition to sports clubs and stadia across the UK.
GrassMaster gained market recognition as the inventors of hybrid turf in 1989. This revolutionary new technology transformed the elite sports industry by delivering reinforced natural grass playing surfaces that can support over 1,000 hours of play per year.
As a result, GrassMaster hybrid turf has been installed on over 800 pitches around the world with UK users including Manchester United, Liverpool FC, Twickenham Stadium and Wembley Stadium.
GrassMaster hybrid pitches have enjoyed ongoing endorsement from leading sporting bodies around the globe, having been chosen as the playing surface for the world’s biggest tournaments including UEFA Euro, FIFA World Cup, and the Rugby World Cup.
> Rugby World Cup 2015 | 2011
> FIFA World Cup 2018 | 2014 | 2010
> Euro 2020 | 2016 | 2012 | 2004
White Horse Contractors and GrassMaster Solutions share a commitment to excellence and innovation and UK sports clubs and stadia can now benefit from their combined 90 years of experience in elite sports pitch construction.
Jason Douglass, White Horse Contractors Group Director, commented:
“Following White Horse Contractors’ substantial growth over the past year, we are thrilled to be partnering with hybrid turf pioneers GrassMaster. Already partnering to great success with Tarkett Sports in the external sports facilities sector, our unique combination of expertise and technology introduces a powerful new hybrid pitch proposition to sports clubs and stadia.”
Following acquisition by the Tarkett Sports Group, GrassMaster Solutions were rebranded in 2014 and now benefit from the globally renowned sports surfacing group’s research and manufacturing strength. As part of Tarkett the hybrid turf innovators have joined world leading artificial turf experts FieldTurf and athletic track specialists Beynon Sports, both of whom have exclusive UK partnerships with S&C Slatter.
With six decades of experience and a long heritage in the design, construction and maintenance of natural and hybrid turf sports pitches, White Horse Contractors have been trusted to construct the highest quality sports pitches for clients including Wasps Rugby Club, Chelsea Football Club and St. George’s Park (the FA’s national football centre and home of England’s football teams).
“This new partnership is an exciting moment for our hybrid business. Our companies share similar values based on internal expertise, attention to quality and service to customers. We are convinced that White Horse Contractors has a bright future in the development of high-end hybrid pitches in England and Wales. Together we will support Groundsmen, Club and Stadium Managers to get the best possible pitch every day, for every training session and every game.”
The new partnership between White Horse Contractors and GrassMaster Solutions offers a truly turn-key solution to the UK market with the ability to meet the needs of the most complex elite sport infrastructure projects.
To learn more call White Horse Contractors on 01865 736 272 or email whc@whitehorsecontractors.co.uk.
The government has announced a new Winter Survival Package of £300m to help national sports governing bodies and individual sports clubs impacted by the loss of revenue from spectators, due to coronavirus restrictions.
The Winter Survival Package has been created by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and will be distributed by Sport England. The funds will provide support specifically to professional spectator sports. Read on if you think your club may be eligible, or head to our funding & finance page for alternative funding options.
The government recognises that coronavirus restrictions have greatly limited the ability for clubs and governing bodies to generate revenue through spectator attendance, severely impacting cash flow, in turn impacting their ability to support grassroots sport.
The Winter Survival Package is therefore providing £300m of funding for clubs or governing bodies who have suffered significantly from these restrictions, focused specifically on revenue losses directly related to the lack of spectators attending matches or events during the pandemic.
The Winter Survival Package is a solicited fund, meaning that it is not open for applications in the same was as Sport England’s funds for grassroots sport. Sport England state that “All of the relevant sports and organisations have been engaged throughout the process to determine their specific needs”.
Only these relevant organisations will then be able to submit an application, with the £300m distributed by an independent committee primarily as loans, with some grants offered based on individual organisations’ needs.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, who are behind the package, have proposed the following breakdown of funds by sport:
Football
Rugby Union
Rugby League
Tennis
Netball
Basketball
Additional funding will also be delivered to Horse Racing (£40m to racecourses), Motorsport (£6m to major circuits), Ice Hockey Elite League (£3m), Badminton England (£2m) and the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (£1m).
If you’re an eligible club, you can find out more about the fund on the Sport England page here:
Last month Sport England announced their Return to Play Fund, which will deliver a total of £16.5m in funding to groups, clubs and organisations in the sport and activity sector who have been hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
The fund is split into three separate strands (£10m for small grants up to £10,000, £5m for Community Asset grants up to £50,000 and £1.5m for Active Together crowdfunding matched grants up to £10,000). The Return to Play fund is aimed at helping organisations to get back on track, in turn helping to get people active in the coming months as restrictions ease.
You can find out more about the Return to Play fund on the Sport England Website.
If you’re not eligible for Sport England funding, there are alternative finance options available for schools, clubs and leisure centres.
You may be eligible for finance options such as Sports Operating Leases or Hire Purchase Agreements.
Sports operating leases are particularly popular for schools and allow you to spread the cost of investing in your new sports facilities. Benefits include reduced upfront costs, fixed payments, reduced tax payments, and the option to reclaim VAT.
Available to sports clubs, hire purchase agreements allow you to spread the cost of your new sports facility over time. Benefits include reduced upfront costs (variety of low deposit options), full ownership on final payment, deferred payment options, and tax relief via annual capital allowances.
To find out more about either of these options or alternative financing available to you, please read more on our Funding & Finance page or call our experts on 01635 34521.
We’ve worked with clients who have utilised a variety of funding options to bring their sports construction projects to life. With 30 years’ experience in the design, construction and maintenance of sports facilities, we have a large network of funding partners and contacts.
View our sports funding and finance case studies to see a selection of projects funded by operating leases or framework funding.
Contact our team to talk to us about your plans and receive advice and guidance on what funding options may be best suited to you.
S&C Slatter are delighted that the 3G Artificial Turf Pitch we constructed at Cranford College has retained its World Rugby Regulation 22 Certification, five years after the project was completed.
Working exclusively with World Rugby and FIFA Preferred Turf Producer FieldTurf in England and Wales, we construct 3G artificial turf pitches for schools, universities and leisure centres, as well as local, professional and elite sports clubs.
S&C Slatter were contracted to build a brand new, full sized, 3G Pitch at Cranford Community College in 2015, in partnership with Queen’s Park Rangers football club. The pitch was completed with a new airdrome, dubbed the ‘Cranford SuperDome’, making it the largest indoor sports space in Hounslow.
Built to the high specification required for both football and rugby (FIFA Quality and World Rugby respectively), the pitch is used by QPR’s academy to develop the team’s young footballers, with Cranford College utilising the pitch for both their football and rugby teams.
It’s not just QPR and Cranford College who benefit from the pitch, with local teams and the community able to hire the pitch out, accessing first-class facilities while generating additional revenue for the school.
Once construction was completed, the pitch was assessed and certified as per the college’s requirement to both FIFA Quality performance standard for football and World Rugby Regulation 22 standard for rugby. Since then, the pitch has been successfully re-certified at each assessment, passing the latest test on 19th October 2020, five years on from completion.
The pitch has officially been re-certified as World Rugby Regulation 22 Compliant until 2022, meaning the pitch will have consistently delivered to World Rugby’s high performance and safety standards for a minimum of seven years by the next test date!
World Rugby Regulation 22 is the regulatory framework for artificial surfaces used for rugby. The framework regulates and standardises development, performance and maintenance of artificial turf to ensure the highest possible player welfare and performance standards.
As well as being a FIFA and International Hockey Federation (FIH) Preferred Turf Producer, FieldTurf is one of a small number of World Rugby Preferred Turf Producers, selected by World Rugby to ensure that installed pitches are safe to play on and are developing in line with the needs of Rugby.
Working with a World Rugby Preferred Producer and their construction partners will give you peace of mind that your rugby pitch will deliver to the high standards expected by World Rugby across performance, safety, longevity, and durability.
Choosing to work without a World Rugby Preferred Producer will give you no such guarantee. Delivering 3G artificial turf pitches to World Rugby or FIFA Quality standards requires expertise and experience across both pitch construction and turf manufacture.
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 shock pad or artificial turf itself. Poorly designed and constructed pitches can lead to compromised safety and surface levels, or issues with drainage.
Constructing a pitch using artificial turf manufactured by a non-World Rugby Preferred Producer may prevent you from being able to achieve World Rugby Regulation 22 certification and could result in a surface that is not fit for use, or even dangerous, leading to a costly replacement.
View a selection of our rugby pitch construction case studies or contact us to discuss your pitch.
We’re thrilled to see that the pitch constructed for QPR and Cranford College is continuing to deliver to the same high standards it was built to, and look forward to the pitch delivering for academy players and pupils for years to come.
Guarantee your peace of mind by working with a team that has delivered hundreds of 3G artificial turf pitches.
S&C Slatter and World Rugby Preferred Producers FieldTurf have partnered to deliver World Rugby certified pitches across the country, including Coventry Rugby Club, Cobham RFC, and Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate.
Get in touch with our team for a free consultation.
S&C Slatter are pleased to announce our new partnership with world leading athletics track manufacturer Beynon Sports, part of the Tarkett Sports Group.
This exclusive partnership for athletics track construction in England & Wales demonstrates our commitment to constructing world-class sporting facilities in partnership with the very best sports surface producers.
The partnership further cements our relationship with Tarkett Sports, parent company of both Beynon and leading artificial turf producers FieldTurf, with whom we have the same exclusive partnership in England & Wales.
With over 7,500 installations in the last 40 years, Beynon Sports is the leading manufacturer of Class I World Athletics Certified Surfaces in the United States and showcases over 40 Class II World Athletics Certified Facilities in 18 countries.
Combined with S&C Slatter’s 30 years of expertise in the design, construction and maintenance of first-class sports facilities, the partnership marks an exciting move for both companies within the European sports construction industry.
John Beynon, President of Beynon Sports, commented:
“We’re truly excited by the opportunities that this partnership can offer. I’m confident that together, we can deliver projects of elite magnitude. Working with a team that is as dedicated to performance and quality as we are was essential, and I thrilled with the relationship we have with the entire team at S&C Slatter.”
Beynon tracks have been the surface of choice for major athletics events, including:
The partnership is already off to a flying start, with S&C Slatter and Beynon Sports recently commencing work on two new athletics track and field facilities in a prestigious project that marks Beynon’s first major installation in Western Europe.
Jason Douglass, S&C Slatter Group Director, commented:
“Following the success of our continuing partnership with FieldTurf, we’re delighted to partner with fellow Tarkett Sports company Beynon, bringing North America’s most prestigious and successful athletics track manufacturer to Western Europe for the first time.”
To find out more about our exclusive partnership with Beynon Sports, or to discuss your athletics facility requirements, please get in touch .
Call 01635 34521 or email info@sandcslatter.com
FieldTurf, in exclusive partnership with S&C Slatter, are thrilled to once again be selected as one of just six exclusive artificial grass pitch providers to the Football Foundation AGP Framework for the period 2020-2024.
The Football Foundation is the Premier League, the FA and UK government’s charity that helps communities improve their local football facilities through football grants.
As existing suppliers to the 2015-2019 Football Foundation AGP Framework, S&C Slatter and FieldTurf are proud to have installed transformational new 3G football pitches for schools and clubs across the country, seeing first-hand the importance of the Football Foundation’s mission and legacy.
Not taking our position for granted, we continually invest in our shared mission to produce superb artificial sports turf pitches which deliver many years of high-quality play for communities, clubs, and schools across the UK. Following a comprehensive and detailed tender process, we are thrilled to have been retained for the next four-year framework cycle.
With over 30 years dedication to sports construction, S&C Slatter are proud to work with FieldTurf, world-leading artificial turf innovators who are FIFA, World Rugby and FIH (International Hockey Federation) Preferred Turf Producers. Working in exclusive partnership since 2014, S&C Slatter have constructed over 300 artificial sports turf pitches in the past six years.
Working at local, regional and elite levels, we deliver outstanding facilities that achieve challenging client objectives and meet governing body standards such as FIFA Quality Pro, FIH Global and World Rugby Regulation 22 certifications.
Together we’ve delivered 3G artificial grass football pitch construction projects for the likes of Everton FC, Queen’s Park Rangers and Harrogate Town AFC, and are proud to be the leading contractor for non-league football.
S&C Slatter also enjoy a long record of success in the delivery of new build and refurbished all weather 3G pitches to the community, education, and leisure sectors. Check our our Swindon Town Community Trust, South Bromsgrove High, and Hart Leisure Centre case studies to see examples of our work.
Find out more about the charity and their incredible impact on grassroots football here.
Under the Football Foundation AGP Framework 2014-2019, we’ve delivered numerous projects for the likes of Swindon Town FC, Fleet Primary School and South Bromsgrove High.
S&C Slatter and FieldTurf are thrilled to be serving the Football Foundation AGP Framework once more. Any Football Foundation Funded project that selects FieldTurf as the preferred supplier will benefit from our unrivalled ‘one team’ approach and can expect the highest quality and performance of their new facility.
If you’d like to learn more about our partnership with FieldTurf or our combined work for the Football Foundation AGP Framework, please get in touch.
Call 01635 34521 or email info@sandcslatter.com
