Project Summary
The UK's first SISGrass hybrid turf pitch
The project carried out by MJ Abbott involved the construction of one hybrid turf pitch at the FA National Football Centre at St George’s Park, Burton-Upon-Trent. This pitch was the first pitch in the UK to feature the SISGrass hybrid pitch reinforcement system.
The scope of works comprised:
- Removal of vegetation and 75mm depth of existing rootzone using Koro fraise mower
- Removal of 150mm depth of existing topsoil to expose existing gravel carpet
- Re-grade existing gravel carpet and top up with new gravel layer to designed contours
- Installation of lower sand layer over gravel carpet
- Installation of clean upper rootzone to 225mm depth and to designed grades
- Consolidation of levels, pre-seed fertiliser application and seeding
- Tie in pitch surrounds and adjust irrigation system as necessary
- Following grow-in establishment, the SISGrass hybrid pitch reinforcement system was installed within two weeks.
Head Groundsman for the FA at St George’s Park, Alan Ferguson, is delighted with the new pitch, which has been used extensively by visiting professional football teams and was used by the Ireland and Argentina teams for training during the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
