The indoor 3G sports pitch at St George's Park has maintained its prestigious FIFA 2-Star status for another 12 months, thanks to the dedication of Head Groundsman, Alan Ferguson and his grounds team, with the help of maintenance experts Technical Surfaces.
The pitch, installed in 2012, is one of two artificial surfaces in the National Football Centre complex and is used primarily to host various coaching and FA UEFA Pro Licence courses.
It is maintained regularly by a team of grounds staff led by Alan, who said: "To have the pitch pass its re test was vital for the Park, as it is a unique selling point for the commercial team in attracting top-level clients to the Park from all round the world.
Alan knows well the essentials involved in maintaining artificial pitches, and liaises regularly with Technical Surfaces to ensure that his facilities receive the correct maintenance routines all year round.
Technical Surfaces is currently part-way through a collaborative study with Loughborough University to investigate the cumulative effects and benefits of maintenance on artificial pitches, for which Alan has granted them unique access to the pitches at St. George's Park.
Monthly tests to monitor hardness, ball roll and 'free' pile height (i.e. the amount of fibre that sits free above the rubber infill), as well as a quarterly analysis of traction and ball rebound, allow Technical Surfaces to observe and record the impact of usage and maintenance on the pitch.
The FIFA 2 Star accreditation is awarded to the indoor 3G pitch at St. George's Park until June 2014, at which time the surface will again be re-tested in accordance with FIFA's exacting standards.
