It was all smiles yesterday at Westleigh Park, the home of Havant and Waterlooville FC, as a new era began.
Marking the first day of construction on the Hawks’ new 3G Stadia Pitch, Havant MP Alan Mak took the honour of breaking ground for the club.
Joined by representatives from S&C Slatter and HWFC, Mak lead the groundbreaking ceremony at the Hawks’ home ground, where over the coming months, we’ll be converting the existing grass pitch to a cutting-edge 3G stadia pitch.
With the unpredictable nature of the existing grass pitch causing issues last season, the new pitch will deliver the superior performance, durability and consistency that the Hawks need.
The artificial grass has been carefully selected to suit the club’s requirements, produced by our exclusive partners FieldTurf. (FIFA Preferred Turf producers).
But it’s not just about team performance. The current uncertainty around both sport and business has also been a driving factor for the pitch conversion. With far higher levels of usage and durability, the new surface will introduce new revenue opportunities for the club, while also benefitting the local area.
In a recent article, club Director Mark Pope commented that:
“…in order to secure the long term future and success of the Club we believe it will be a very beneficial move and the right time to introduce the playing surface.
…It will create a number of new jobs within the area and will bring together the community, along with helping financial matters on and off the pitch to make us a real community based Club. It’s an exciting new era at Westleigh and can only make us stronger as a Club.”
Hawks' boss Paul Doswell with MP Alan Mak
As the leading contractor for non-league football, we’re thrilled to be working with HWFC to deliver their new 3G playing surface.
It’s great to be working with familiar faces too. We’re delighted to be working once again with Hawks’ boss Paul Doswell, following our collaboration at Sutton United FC.
Following the pioneering success of the 3G pitch at Sutton, there’s no doubt that HWFC are in safe hands as they embark on this exciting new chapter.
In the same article, Paul commented:
“Having worked with Jason Douglass before at S&C Slatter when I was at Sutton United, we have chosen the best company in the country to install our surface. I saw first hand at Sutton what a game changer the 3G pitch became and I’m convinced that this will be the focal point of the local community.”
S&C Slatter’s Contracts and Health & Safety Managers were thrilled to join Alan and Paul at the ceremony. We’ll look forward to following the construction of the new pitch, and can’t wait to hand over for the Hawks to use next season!
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 34521 or email info@sandcslatter.com
S&C Slatter are delighted that three 3G artificial turf pitches the company constructed for non-league football clubs have retained their FIFA Quality Pro certifications this week.
The 3G stadium pitches at Sutton United, Maidstone United and Harrogate Town FC were constructed to FIFA Quality Pro standards in 2015/16. Following handover each surface has enjoyed the expert attention of S&C Slatter’s in-house maintenance division.
Each club was tested this week for their respective certifications, with all three retaining their FIFA Quality Pro Certifications.
We’re thrilled by this recognition of our design, construction and maintenance expertise with the continued FIFA certified performance of our stadia pitches.
To find out more about each club, read our case studies below:
To find out more about FIFA Quality Pro certifications and our exclusive partnership with FIFA Preferred Turf Producer FieldTurf, read our recent article on Eastbourne Borough FC’s fifth annual FIFA Quality Pro certification.
S&C Slatter are the leading contractor for non-league football 3G stadia Pitches.
With an upcoming 3G stadia conversion at Havant and Waterlooville FC and recent 3G stadia conversion at Billericay FC, 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 34521 or email info@sandcslatter.com
With the economic effects of the pandemic becoming clear, and the Prime Minister pushing the country to ‘build build build’, how can schools rise to the challenge of delivering high quality sports education for children during an uncertain and turbulent time?
Speaking to clients, we understand the difficulties facing the education sector, whether independently or state financed. Where capital funds had been confidently allocated prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, the uncertainties that now exist mean that it’s much harder to commit funding to new initiatives.
With the desire for first-class sporting facilities remaining, and many schools keen to provide new or upgraded pitches, we’ve researched the options and identified an effective funding solution.
Through strategic partnerships with leading providers of operating leases which comply with the ESFA Academies Financial Handbook, we can build or refurbish your pitch to FIFA Quality standards with your costs spread over a 5-7 year period.
Unlike capital funded projects, a sports operating lease allows you to spread the cost over time with flexible payments, and a much-reduced upfront cost. An added benefit is that your new pitch could generate revenue from facility hire to offset the cost of your repayments.
Football is an essential part of the curriculum and a key motivator for pupils at the John Madejski Academy in Reading. When their artificial pitch reached its end of life, they utilised a sports operating lease to fund the installation of a brand new FIFA Quality 3G artificial surface. Read the case study to see how the pitch pays for itself and helped to drive student admissions.
“On balance paying £50-£60k per year on an operating lease represented better value than paying upfront costs of around £270k – £300k…and the income generated from pitch rental offsets the repayments”
David Maine, Director of Estates and Facilities, White Horse Foundation
Like most finance agreements, operating leases allow for a purchase to be made (in this case a new or refurbished pitch) with the cost spread over time.
With an operating lease, you can spread the cost out through fixed-interest payments over a period of up to 7 years, with a fraction of the cost up front.
Payments can be made annually, quarterly or semi-annually to suit your needs. At the end of the lease period, you can either acquire the assets through a final payment or extend the use of assets over future years.
The average cost to construct a new-build 3G artificial turf pitch to FIFA performance standards, with fencing and floodlighting, will fall between £600,000 – £700,000* depending on the site, ground conditions, and specifications.
The average cost to resurface an existing pitch to the standards described above would fall between £200,000 – £300,000* depending on the site, ground conditions, and specifications.
The example below shows how an operating lease can be utilised to reduce up-front costs and accelerate the provision of important facilities for your pupils.
| Pitch | Cost | Operating Lease (Annual in advance ex VAT)* | ||
| 5 Year | 6 Year | 7 Year | ||
| New-build | £650,000 | £135,000 | £116,300 | £104,600 |
| Resurface | £225,000 | £46,700 | £40,300 | £36,200 |
*Figures quoted were correct at time of writing (July 2020) and serve for illustrative purposes only. Please contact us to learn more and receive a detailed quote for your new artificial sports turf pitch.
In times of fiscal uncertainty, the ability to construct a new sports pitch – without committing significant funds up front – is a welcome relief for many schools.
An operating lease will free up your capital resources for other uses, while flexible, fixed-interest payments allow for painless financial planning.
With the cost spread over a period of years, revenue generated from facility hire can offset the cost of repayments – so your new facility could help pay for itself.
While the global situation has changed, it’s clear that life cannot be put on hold forever.
If you’re planning a new sports construction project, or your existing facilities are in need of refurbishment, now is the time to get your project underway.
Please get in touch with us to discuss your requirements and discover how we can help.
Call Jason Douglass on 01635 34521 or email info@sandcslatter.com
S&C Slatter are thrilled to be moving onto the second phase of works at the AELTC’s Raynes Park site, which plays an important role in both the Wimbledon Championships and the local community.
We’re proud to be delivering part of the latest major development at the All England Lawn Tennis Club’s (AELTC) Community Sports Ground, which will see a vast expansion of facilities suitable for international athletes and enhanced community initiatives.
S&C Slatter are in the process of constructing 3 Plexipave tennis courts under a new air dome, with our in-house dedicated surfacing and civils team delivering the facility’s new footpaths and roadways.
The project has been split into two phases, in support of the overall project works:
Phase 1 of our works focused on base preparation for the construction of the tennis courts, including the laser surfacing of an asphalt base, ready to receive the Plexipave tennis surface. As part of this phase, we constructed the pathways associated with the new hardcourts, that allow access through a porous surface to the sustainable drainage system (SuDS).
Phase 2, now underway, will see the completion of the new Plexipave tennis courts, the same hardcourt surface utilised at the Australian Open. We’ll also deliver the asphalt surfacing of the facility’s roadways, and pathways between the new outdoor courts.
Initially acquired in 1990 by The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), the site at Raynes Park is located just 3.5 miles from Wimbledon’s iconic Centre Court. The initial six grass courts supported the Championships over the years, with six new acrylic courts constructed in 2016 as part of the last re-development.
The AELTC very kindly shared some drone photography of the current development in progress, which accompanies this article. While much of our works are very much under wraps (or under dome!) for now, we look forward to the completion of this fantastic expansion, which will benefit both community and international tennis for years to come.
Whether a small community project or large-scale elite facility, we work collaboratively with clients to deliver at every stage of your project. Please get in touch with us on 01635 345 21 or email info@sandcslatter.com to discuss your needs.
Since early June, the UK government have been slowly easing lockdown restrictions, with participation in sport – for both physical and mental health – rightfully high on the agenda. With schools, businesses and some sports clubs cautiously opening up, we take a look at the latest guidance from the government, industry and sporting bodies.
This article looks at the advice for schools, sports clubs and leisure centres, to help you understand what’s possible when it comes to social distancing sport.
Whilst exercise was initially limited to once a day, with members of your own household, guidance has now eased to allow (social distancing) sport activity.
From June 1st, the government changed the rules so that those living in England may exercise with up to 5 other people outside of their household, so long as a 2m distance is maintained.
For some sports, such as tennis, this marked a return to (almost) normal play, where matches against others may be played. However, for group sports that require close contact between players – such as football and rugby – it was made clear that only group training would be allowed.
Here’s a breakdown by sport:
In all cases, social distancing guidelines must be adhered to, as well as increased hygiene requirements for any shared equipment and facilities. More information can be found on the government website.
With many sports now back on the table, for matches or training, let’s take a look at how sectors can maximise their offering under the new guidance.
Many schools have opened their doors to specific year groups this month, with new rules and regulations in place to limit the risk of coronavirus. So how do these new guidelines work with the government guidelines for social distancing sport?
First things first, there’s no doubt that physical activity remains an important requirement of schools. The UK government are actively promoting physical activity, particularly for ‘those children who have had limited opportunity for exercise’ during lockdown – who are encouraged to exert themselves at school.
The guidance states that PE Lessons may continue so long as they are strictly non-contact and involve one temporary group – also known as a ‘protective bubble’ – at a time. This means that PE may be taught in groups of up to 15, overruling the maximum of 6 people that applies to sport outside of school.
The Association for Physical Education have created a guidance document to help schools interpret government guidance.
Ways for schools to safely deliver social distancing sport include:
Where shared equipment and/or changing facilities are implemented, these should be cleaned before and after each lesson.
Although matches aren’t allowed, it doesn’t mean that students can’t enjoy safely practicing their favourite team sports.
It’s been great to see many clients getting creative, finding ways to re-introduce the idea of ‘team’ sports with training drills for football, hockey, tennis and cricket that can be safely enjoyed from a distance, without equipment being shared by hand.
You can keep pupils’ competitive spirit alive by splitting your bubble into teams, and competing for:
All in all, there are plenty of ways to keep children safely engaged in their favourite sports, while still adhering to government guidance!
Although gyms and indoor sports facilities are unlikely to open until 4th July at the earliest*, since June 1st outdoor sports facilities (such as tennis courts, basketball courts, football pitches) have been able to reopen, so long as the facility owner feels they are able to do so safely.
*The one exception to this is indoor sports facilities used by elite athletes, which have been allowed to open in line with the government’s two-stage programme for elite sport.
With coaches able to return to work and tennis, football, basketball and other sports back on the table (whether for matches or training – as in the top section of this article), those with outdoor sports facilities are now able to offer small group coaching and facility hire.
Ways to open, or partially re-open your outdoor facilities (and prepare for the re-opening of indoor facilities) include:
Many sports governing bodies, such as FIFA, have advised that prior to opening it is advisable to undertake maintenance of your facilities, including a deep clean of sports courts and artificial surfaces to ensure that you minimise risk to users.
With coaching class sizes limited (for now) to 6 people including the coach, who must be socially distanced, it’s understandably difficult to generate the same revenue from classes that were previously jam-packed.
At the same time, staggering classes will likely be required, to limit the contact between different groups and allow for time to clean between sessions.
Ways to mitigate this could include reducing the length of class sizes, which could help to account for the extra preparation time, and allow more members to access your facilities overall.
If you don’t offer outdoor facilities such as tennis courts or artificial pitches (or even if you do!) there are still ways to re-introduce socially distanced sport if you have outdoor space.
Whilst perhaps weather dependent – you could move equipment outdoors to enable groups of 6 (including instructors) to resume the classes you usually offer indoors, such as spin classes, HIIT classes and yoga. David Lloyd, for example, have recently launched such classes.
If you don’t feel that it is safe or economical to re-open your outdoor facilities, or your facilities are indoors, you could instead offer online classes or coaching to generate revenue.
This is exactly what Everyone Active did, launching their ‘Stay Active At Home’ platform during lockdown, a great way to keep members engaged until re-opening in the future.
From 1st July employers may bring back furloughed workers for any amount of time and any shift pattern, while still being able to claim from the job retention scheme for normal hours not worked.
If you want to re-open your outdoor facilities or begin offering online sessions, this is a way to slowly get your business up and running again while protecting your employees.
By taking bookings in advance online or over the phone, you’re able to limit social contact, whilst able to better manage employee time and resources.
If you still have someone in-house taking bookings, then making contactless or card payments mandatory, including face coverings for employees, should help to limit contact.
There many ways in which sports facilities owners can slowly begin to kick-start their offering for social distancing sport during the time of coronavirus. For further guidance, UKActive have put together a framework for the re-opening of gym, leisure centre and wider fitness industry during social distancing.
For community and semi-professional sports clubs, the situation is much the same as for leisure centres. Indoor facilities are not set to open until July 4th at the earliest, but outdoor facilities may now open, and the decision to re-open facilities or begin training will ultimately rest with the club.
At the current time, for non-elite team sport, match-play is not allowed but training is. All training should fall in line with government guidelines, which includes:
Again, this still leaves plenty of room for drills and practice to keep your team on their toes, whilst keeping team spirit alive from a safe distance.
The government guidance on outdoor sport may be set to change when rules on indoor sports facilities are announced, so it’s worth getting training up and running now in preparation for the next step for your individual sport, which may include increased group sizes or reduced social distancing limits.
Most sports governing bodies have produced guidance for facilities re-opening, as well as roadmaps for the sport, to show what’s currently allowed, and what the next stages for training and match playing will be:
Common takeaways from all of these documents include:
Whilst sport as we know it may not return for some time, it’s important for the sports, leisure and education sectors to ensure maximum availability of sports and sports facilities for children and adults alike. Let’s continue to build an active nation!
If you want to ensure your facilities are safe and ready for use as lockdown continues to ease, please get in touch with us for a free assessment of your facilities. Our expert in-house maintenance division can carry out a deep clean and any necessary repairs of your pitch or court.
This week, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)’s risk assessment committee backed restriction proposals for an EU ban on the deliberate addition of microplastic particles to products. As part of this, the committee agreed on the need for a total ban on the use of microplastics in artificial grass playing fields.
The European Commission asked the European Chemicals Agency to prepare a restrictions proposal targeted at reducing pollution from microplastics and oxo-plastics in products for professional and consumer use – including artificial turf.
Ultimately, it might be that no changes come into force. Yet, as we move towards a more environmentally aware future, we believe it’s best to prepare for the very real possibility that there will either be a complete ban or enforced containment measures, on microplastics in artificial turf.
As we discussed in our article last year, we’re proud to already offer many of the measures required for clients to adapt should this ban, or mitigation methods, come into place.
Whether these measures are adopted by the EU, or you simply want to ensure your facilities are as environmentally sound as possible, our dedicated teams will provide guidance and advice on the latest best practice and options available.
Currently, these options include:
If a ban is introduced, then the focus for existing artificial turf pitches will be safely removing any existing plastic infill with a suitable organic performance infill of the same quality. This process uses specialised equipment to ensure no damage to the artificial turf fibres.
We work exclusively with leading artificial turf manufacturers FieldTurf, who already offer organic performance infill in the form of PureFill and PureSelect, fully certified to governing body criteria such as FIFA and World Rugby Regulation 22.
In the case of new 3G pitches, which use a combination of sand and performance infill material, this will involve selecting an organic infill material (as above) to be used in place of SBR or similar plastic products.
It’s worth noting that by the time any such measures come into place, non-fill artificial turf technology currently in development – often referred to as ‘4G’ – may be certified for use, removing the need for performance infill altogether.
Even with a complete ban on microplastics, environmental charity FIDRA have suggested that containment measures should still be introduced to protect the environment from infill migration.
Containment measures that can be fitted retrospectively include:
For new pitches, the above elements can be built into the pitch design, as well as additional options such as building elevated edges or a solid surface around the perimeter of the pitch.
When artificial turf has come to the end of its useful life, we can advise on economically and environmentally sound options for recycling of turf and infill into new materials.
Having already completed the removal and recycling of several field installations in the US, FieldTurf is at the forefront of developing technology to expand end-of-life turf applications. Their Driving The Field To Zero initiative is a commitment a future where none of their artificial turf products make it to landfill.
S&C Slatter are committed to ensuring that our business operates in the most environmentally sound way possible.
Our in-house Health, Safety and Environmental Quality Manager is working to ensure business-wide compliance in line with the latest guidance. This includes working towards an ISO 14001 accreditation, the acquisition of specialist plant and machinery operating with biofuels and the implementation of new policies and procedures.
We’ll keep a close eye on the developments in the proposed ECHA restriction and ensure that if and when restrictions come into place, we’ll be ready to help clients ensure their artificial pitches are compliant with regulations.
If you would like to discuss the latest recommendations from the risk assessment committee, or would like to discuss alternative infill methods, pitch recycling or similar, please get in touch with us on 01635 345 21 or email info@sandcslatter.com
The Slatter Group has seen tremendous growth over the past 18 months, which includes the acquisition of White Horse Contractors and a number of new hires into senior roles across The Group.
In light of this expansion, it is with great pride that we announce the appointment of Ben O’Connor as the new Managing Director of S&C Slatter.
Ben succeeds David Slatter, who will move into the role of Chief Executive Officer at The Slatter Group, overseeing both White Horse Contractors and S&C Slatter.
David Slatter commented:
“I am delighted to welcome Ben to the role of Managing Director of S&C Slatter. Ben’s commercial experience of the sports construction and surfacing and civils industries as well as his strong sense of integrity mean he is the perfect person for the role. At The Slatter Group we have always prided ourselves on looking after our hard working and exceptionally loyal colleagues and I know that Ben shares the same values.
My new role as CEO of The Slatter Group will allow me to spend much more time ‘out and about’ on both S&C Slatter and White Horse Contractors construction sites. By talking to both our site and client teams I will be able to ensure that we are providing the services our clients require in the most efficient, environmentally friendly, and safe manner.”
Ben O’Connor joined the company in 2015 and has been a key player in the management team as Pre-Construction Manager.
Moving into the role of Managing Director, Ben commented:
“It is an honour and a privilege to become Managing Director of S&C Slatter; the Company has a market leading position built on strong moral fortitude and a personal approach. I’m excited to work with a fantastic, hardworking team who have huge drive and determination to keep us at the forefront of the industry.”
We couldn’t announce Ben as our new Managing Director without taking a moment to ask him about his new role and plans for the future.
My time is spent working across the different departments of the business, listening to colleagues and helping to find solutions to challenges. Working alongside David and Jason Douglass (Group Director), we identify areas for improvement and new sectors to be explored. I am pleased to spend more time visiting sites, talking with colleagues and clients to ensure that the hard work of all of areas of the company is represented in a worthy installation.
To maintain the commitment to high moral standards and integrity with which S&C Slatter has prospered and to keep the Company at the forefront of market development while preserving the personal approach.
Our teams are proving the strength of our ability to be flexible; we are working with clients to undertake operations in alternative ways, bringing projects forward as well as deferring them to secured future dates. We are anticipating that funding resources will be stretched so aiding clients with sensible financing options is an important offering we can help with. Being ready to meet demand when sporting activities can fully recommence is something our site teams are currently working incredibly hard to enable.
The environmental agenda is a vitally important challenge and one we spend significant time discussing, researching and addressing. Working exclusively with FieldTurf gives us a turf partner with great R&D teams, together we are developing solutions to give clients products and installations that are of exceptional quality and informed by the latest standards.
Congratulations to Ben and David on their new roles, we’re excited for what the future holds!
S&C Slatter have provided trusted solutions to the sport, leisure and education sectors for nearly 30 years.
Together with our sister company, White Horse Contractors, The Slatter Group provides an unrivalled scope of services to a broad reach of clients within the sports grounds, amenity, leisure, agricultural and equestrian sectors.
If you’re considering a sports construction project, and want to work with one trusted point of contact – from design and planning through to construction and aftercare – get in touch with Ben and our expert team on 01635 345 21 or email info@sandcslatter.com.
With coronavirus impacting all sectors, we know how difficult a time it has been for the 120,000 sports clubs and voluntary organisations across the country, who work hard to deliver sporting facilities to those who need them.
Quick to respond to the crisis, Sport England announced an initial £210m in funding to help the physical activity sector through the coronavirus uncertainty in England.
Now, as the country looks towards the ‘new normal’, they have announced a further £1m in funding via their Active Together partnership, aimed at local clubs and sporting organisations facing financial hardship as a result of Covid-19.
The partnership is delivered in collaboration with the crowdfunding platform Crowdfunder, where organisations can run a campaign to fundraise a specific amount – with people pledging money in return for an incentive or ‘reward’.
Sport England have pledged £1m to match funds raised by eligible organisations through the platform, up to a maximum of £10,000 per organisation.
Organisations eligible to apply for a Sport England ‘pledge’ are:
If your application is approved, your project will be able to receive a 50% (maximum £10,000) match fund of your fundraising total, in the form of a ‘pledge’ from Sport England.
Your Crowdfunder project will need to meet two criteria in order to receive a pledge:
You will then need to raise the full 100% of your goal in order to receive the Sport England funds.
In essence, for any goal set to £20,000 or below, you’re only having to fundraise 50% of the campaign through crowdfunding, with Sport England pledging the rest!
Example:
If you’re approved for a pledge and your crowdfunding target is £5,000, Sport England can match up to 50% of this (£2,500).
You’ll need to raise £1250 (25% of your initial campaign target) from a minimum of 25 supporters to receive your £2,500 pledge from Sport England.
That will bring your overall campaign to £3750, which is 75% of your crowdfunding target. You then need to crowdfund the final 25% of your campaign goal (another £1250) to receive your funds from Sport England (and your generous supporters!)
Apply through the dedicated page on the Crowdfunder website – make sure to check out the full terms and conditions too, to see whether your organisation is eligible and what criteria you’ll have to meet for your crowdfunding goal.
If you’re thinking of applying to the fund and setting up a crowdfunding page, there are some great resources available in the dedicated sports section of the crowdfunder website, this includes examples of successful campaigns, webinars and guides.
S&C Slatter have been providing trusted solutions to the sports, leisure and education sectors since 1991, and have been proud to work with local and community organisations to improve their sports facilities.
If you know you need certain work doing but are unsure on costs, then we’re happy to provide a free assessment of your facilities, to provide guidance on costs to help in setting your fundraising target.
Please get in touch by calling our Project Manager Matthew Thompson.
Tel: 07584 666548 Email: mthompson@sandcslatter.com
If your organisation is eligible and would free like assistance in your application, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.
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.
