EHF partner Astroturf sent us an update on their latest hockey pitch in Europe, at one of England’s premier clubs, Beeston HC!
The resurfacing work carried out on Pitch 1 was completed today and is now open!
The project costing £200,000 was completed thanks to funding grants from England Hockey and the National Hockey Foundation, along with sinking fund donations and savings.
The old water based pitch, supplied by AstroTurf in 2001, was considered to be the best surface in the country. The Hockey Centre chose AstroGrass from AstroTurf once again as the supplier for the new pitch.
The new pitch, like the old pitch, is made from nylon. Nylon pitches are considered the best playing surface by international players because nylon absorbs water, meaning that the pitch stays wet longer than a polyethylene artificial pitch. The fibre of the pitch is soft and the pitch ensures flat, fast and consistent ball movement with a natural bounce.
Other big European Clubs such as HC Rotterdam and Pinoké in the Netherlands, Royal Antwerp, KHC Dragons and HC Braxgata in Belgium and Canterbury HC in Kent have all chosen AstroTurf on their recent pitch refurbishments.
Men’s 1st team coach, Matt Taylor, said “The new pitch is a fantastic addition to the facility. We now have one of the best surfaces in the country to play on. The pitch is very true and very fast which will suit our style of play. AstroTurf were the inventors of synthetic grass over 50 years ago and are the ‘Rolls Royce’ of hockey pitches.”
As well as the new pitch at the Hockey Centre, 36 new car parking bays have been built giving the site over 200 hard standing car parking spaces. A new, higher fence has also been installed on the main pitch at the Boulevard end to protect the new tram system which will open shortly.
Source and photographs: Carl Whelan, Astroturf