16th Apr 2019
Hockey pitch specialist S&C Slatter has every reason to celebrate with the award of two International Hockey Federation (FIH) certifications.
The company has been registered as an FIH Certified Field Builder under the 2019 FIH Quality Programme for Hockey Turf, and the hockey pitch constructed for their client, Royal Holloway University of London, has once again received it’s FIH Certificate of Field Performance following the programme’s mandatory periodic re-testing.
For clubs, schools and communities considering the development of an artificial hockey pitch, the FIH Certified Field Builder designation provides a good deal of reassurance that they are dealing with a provider of proven technical skills, quality and reliability. S&C Slatter has secured this recognition for each of the last four years.
The FIH certificate succinctly summarises the benefits for a client. ‘(S&C Slatter) has demonstrated a proven ability to construct hockey fields to the standards the game requires, has appropriate in-house civil engineering expertise for the design and construction of hockey fields, operates a quality management system to ensure consistency in their work and provides comprehensive maintenance advice to their customers.’
In practice, these benefits are clearly evident to Royal Holloway University of London. Back in 2015 S&C Slatter designed and constructed a new full-size hockey pitch as part of a wider sports development including an artificial turf rugby and football pitch, tennis/netball courts, MUGA and an activity track. The hockey pitch, featuring a FieldTurf Hockey Gold sand-dressed artificial turf, was built to deliver the FIH National Performance Standard, which was confirmed by the independent post-completion testing and certification. Now four years on, and literally hundreds of games later, the pitch is still delivering its ‘as built’ characteristics and qualities.
Mark Hyndman, Head of Student Engagement & Sport at the University, has commented ‘Feedback has been overwhelming on the standard and quality of playing surfaces. We’ve had visitors from all over the country to view the facilities and the workmanship that went into it.’
S&C Slatter, part of The Slatter Group, is committed to upholding the objectives and values of the FIH Quality Programme for Hockey Turf, with its manufacturing partner, FieldTurf, also being recognised as an FIH Preferred Supplier.
A fully inclusive one-stop solution is provided by the S&C Slatter team of experts, from initial feasibility, design and planning, through development, verification and implementation, to construction, fitting out and maintenance.
