16th Nov 2018
Everton has become the latest high-profile football club to enjoy the benefits of new football turf facilities provided by sports construction specialists S&C Slatter. A full-size outdoor pitch and smaller indoor one at the club’s renowned USM Finch Farm Training Complex have been refurbished and upgraded with new FieldTurf CORE 42-17 football turf playing surfaces.
Prior to introducing the new systems, the company’s refurbishment technicians had to release, uplift and remove from site both the existing artificial grass surfaces and shock pads without causing disruption of the overall pitch structures.
Having completed the removal process and preparation of the sub-base formations, a new in situ-bound rubber shock pad was machine-laid to fine tolerances over each pitch footprint. This is a highly-skilled operation where attention to detail and vigilant supervision of quality assurance is paramount if one is to achieve the required finished specification.
However, S&C Slatter’s ISO 9001:2015 certified Quality Management System provides a control and monitoring framework for all projects; embracing the full range of on-site programmes and activities. This links with our on-going training and education commitment which ensures that all our team members benefit from regular appraisals and personal development courses.
Installed over the new shock pad systems is FieldTurf CORE 42-17 football turf which represents a genuinely revolutionary development in artificial grass technology. The fibre has a hardened centre for exceptional resilience and durability but a soft outer layer for optimum player comfort and interaction. This combination has prompted many to comment that CORE is the most exciting innovation we’ve seen for many years.
The completed full-size pitch has been independently tested and certified as compliant with the FIFA Quality performance standard while the indoor pitch meets the specified requirements of EN 15330-1.
S&C Slatter and manufacturing partner FieldTurf regularly work together on projects funded under the Football Foundation Framework and have earned a reputation for consistently building and delivering quality football pitches of the highest order. You will also have seen our pitches featuring regularly in televised FA Cup matches most recently at Haringey Borough and previously Maidstone United and Sutton United. In fact, four teams in this year’s first round ties have football turf stadium pitches built by S&C Slatter with FieldTurf playing systems.
