Dartford Valley RFC

McArdle Sport Tec were delighted to install an artificial rugby pitch at Stone Lodge for Dartford Borough Council.

Established in 1967, Dartford Valley RFC are settling well into their new club facilities at Stone Lodge.

The council-owned land was previously home to Stone House Hospital and host to a public rifle and pistol range. The council decided to redevelop the land for housing, a new secondary school, and to provide a permanent home for Dartford Valley RFC, providing an accessible 3G rugby pitch to the growing community and secondary school development.

McArdle Sport Tec were delighted to have been awarded the competitive public tender by Dartford Borough Council in association with Total Project Integration.

Installation of the new World Rugby Reg 22 artificial pitch was synchronised with contractors BBS Construction who were awarded a separate contract for the club house and natural turf pitch.

McArdle started construction works in November 2018 from a prepared formation level, installing perimeter and lateral drains and an engineered base layer before handing back over to BBS Construction before Christmas to continue with the club house build over the winter months. The Artificial Rugby Pitch installation works re-commenced in Spring 2019 to complete the shock pad, artificial carpet, floodlighting and fencing works.

Contract Manager Barry Jacobs commented:
“The state-of-the-art artificial rugby pitch installation provides an air of gentrification to an up and coming area. Many nearby residents were at first sceptical but were won over as the project progressed. I am very proud to have been involved in a successful project and hope both the club as well as other parties enjoy this new facility.”

Peter Timon, Chair, Dartford Valley Rugby Club said, “Rugby is about family and community but also about discipline, respect and teamwork.”