BRIDGEMARY SCHOOL

A WATER-LOGGED NATURAL GRASS PITCH WAS MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR THE SCHOOL TO USE DURING THE WINTER MONTHS.

Due to these problems with their natural turf pitch, Bridgemary school applied, and successfully received, a £355,397 grant from the Premier League and The FA Facilities Fund managed by the Football Foundation to enable to installation of a Artificial Grass Pitch.

McArdle Sport Tec and partners TigerTurf were appointed to deliver the brand new 7,526 sq. metre Artificial Grass Pitch, which was to be used all year round by not only the school, but also by the Chelsea FC Foundation during the school holidays for community outreach work.

The new Artificial Grass Pitch installation included fencing, floodlighting and a spectator area, which meant the school were able to play competitive fixtures and take bookings from local football clubs, such as local partner clubs including Gosport FC, Gosport Borough Youth FC and Spartan Colts FC. These clubs were to use the new site for training and matches, encouraging the increase in participation among those clubs as well, and enabling them to create new teams.

The Artificial Grass Pitch installation began in May 2014 and was completed in 14 weeks, ready for the new school term.

Former Chelsea player and current Blues Academy coach, Jon Harley, attended the opening ceremony of Bridgemary School’s new floodlit 3G Pitch.

Jon, who played in Chelsea’s FA Cup winning team in 2000, said, “It was a privilege to open the excellent 3G Pitch at Bridgemary School. The investment provided by the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund, which is delivered by the Football Foundation, has enabled the school to offer a stunning facility for the local community to utilise all-year round.”