Why we relaid
After four seasons and about 40,000 games, the old turf on Pitches 1 to 4 had thinned in the goalmouths and the rubber crumb had compacted. Players noticed the ball bobbling and their knees noticed the hard spots.
What went down
The new surface sits on a 20 mm shock pad, with longer fibres and a cork and rubber infill that stays cooler in the afternoon sun. Drainage was upgraded at the same time so the pitches clear standing water in under ten minutes.
How long it took
Each pitch closed for eight days, one at a time, so there were always at least three pitches open. Bookings moved automatically to free pitches and nobody lost a slot.
Looking after it
We brush every pitch each morning before 06:00 and top up infill monthly. Please play in turf shoes or moulded studs; metal studs damage the fibres.
The lights never blink, and the knees thank us.