DOROTHY HYMAN SPORTS CLUB – ARTIFICIAL PITCH RESURFACING

MCARDLE SPORT TEC AND TIGERTURF’S 3G PITCH OFFICIALLY OPENED.

McArdle Sport Tec & partners TigerTurf completed a challenging artificial pitch installation in February, after winning a competitive tender for a 3G pitch resurfacing at Dorothy Hyman Sports Centre in Barnsley.

The works included reconstruction and extension of an existing sand dressed pitch to build a new 106 x 70m community 3G pitch.

The previous sand dressed pitch had been decommissioned in 2012 after it had been deemed unsafe. The works on the new artificial pitch installation required extension to the existing footprint , new floodlighting and perimeter fencing.

Once groundworks had begun, we soon discovered that the foundations needed extensive works to remove 2000 cubic meters of solid rock formation, inhibiting the progress of the planned works. Once this minor setback had been overcome, and foundations had been established, TigerTurf’s FIFA Quality Turf Atomic Pro 60, had been laid over the engineered macadam base.

This facility was made possible due to a grant of £361,598 awarded by the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund, which is delivered by the largest sports charity in the UK, the Football Foundation. Funds are generated by the Premier League, FA, and Government via Sport England, making these grants available to develop new and refurbished grassroots sporting facilities.

The all weather pitch was officially opened on the 9th March by Premier League assistant referee Scott Ledger, and joined by Darren England, Stephen Lodge & Sir Stephen Houghton CBE. Attending guest of honour was infamous Olympic sprinter Dorothy Hyman, who the sports centre is named after. She represented GB in the 100m and 200m events in the Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games in 1960 & 1964.

Cllr Roy Miller, Cabinet Spokesperson for Place, said:

“It is exciting news that the new state-of-the-art artificial grass pitch is now complete. It will be a great addition to the fantastic facilities already available at the Dorothy Hyman Centre.

Together with partners like BPL we are working hard to help people achieve their potential to be healthier, happier and active. The new pitch will not only support the council’s Play Pitch strategy but also provide more opportunities for local people to get involved in sport and active recreation.”

Joni Millthorpe, BPL contracts manager, said: “There has been a lot of excitement around the new development.

Many local teams are finding it difficult to expand because they don’t have the facilities to train and it can be expensive to travel outside the area, which is hindering their growth. This new pitch will allow them to go from strength to strength”.