Projects by location: North

Leeds Rugby Academy 3G

Blakedown have completed construction of a new full size 3G pitch for Leeds Rugby Academy, the dedicated training ground for Leeds Rhinos.

The 65mm pile height carpet, lined for rugby was laid onto an engineered base, it is also lined with three 7-a-side football pitches for local team use.

New 4 metre high fencing was installed on the pitch, with 5 metre high behind the goal ends; here a netting facility can take the fencing up to 10 metre high when required.

Essa Academy 3G & Tarmac MUGA

Blakedown Sport & Play have constructed a full size 3rd Generation all weather pitch suitable for football and hockey also including a tarmac MUGA at The Essa Academy; part of a large multi-million new build project.

An Edel FIH approved carpet was the surface laid, with permanent lines installed for football, hockey and 5-a-side.

The 8 court, open graded tarmac multi-use games area was constructed for tennis & netball.

5m high fencing and an 8 column 200 lux floodlight system completed the project.

Lancaster & Morecambe College 3G & Tarmac Courts

Blakedown Sport & Play have completed a full size 3rd Generation pitch which has been constructed in accordance with IRB specification.

Acrylic coated tarmac courts lined for tennis & netball were also constructed.

Both areas were installed with twin bar fencing; goal recesses were also included on the synthetic pitch.

The installation of the 3G onto an engineered base with shockpad used a Desso 65mm surface lined for rugby, football & three 5-a-sides which can be sectioned using dividing nets.

The pitch and courts are the first step in a £1.2m development project at the college, which includes a state of the art fitness suite overlooking the new pitch.

The high performance pitch now provides an all year facility for college students and the local community.

Accrington & Rossendale College 3G Football Pitch

Blakedown Sport & Play have constructed a 3rd Generation, 100 × 63m pitch to FIFA 1 star standards, complete with fencing and floodlights.

The installation onto an engineered base uses a Desso surface, similar to that used by some of Europe’s top clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur, VFL Volburg and Real Madrid.

The new sports development consists of two stages; stage one the installation of the new synthetic pitch and stage 2 due for completion next summer is a state of the art pavillion.

Head of sports Mark Fell said: “Academy teams will be based at this new facility, providing them with a training centre to rival and surpass most professional football clubs’ training grounds.”

College Principal Stephen Carlisle added “This is a great facility for the entire community and we will ensure it is enjoyed, not only by our talented students, but by local schools, football clubs and other groups who will benefit from the investment”

Glenburn Sports College 3G football pitch and tennis courts

Lancashire County Council appointed Blakedown Sport & Play to construct a 3G ATP (artificial turf pitch) at the specialist sports college. 



The project was part of an exciting £650,000 redevelopment of the college’s sports facilities and included construction of a 98m x 62m rubber crumb football pitch, complete with floodlighting and fencing, plus refurbishment of six tennis courts, including upgraded floodlights and non-slip acrylic coating.

Head Teacher, Hilary Torpey, said: “With too few high-quality netball and tennis courts in Lancashire, the additional resurfacing of Glenburn’s facilities has been enthusiastically embraced by England Netball and the British Lawn Tennis Association.”

Myerscough College Five-a-side football pitch

To install a new 120m x 75m 3rd generation football pitch to FIFA 1 Star & IRB standards. John Wherry, Deputy Principal of Resources, said: “The first day of term was torrential rain, but sports play could continue on the 3G and the grass pitches were saved a hammering. Throughout the project, Blakedown kept us informed. The liaison and co-operation between the team on the ground and our grounds staff was excellent. The project was well planned, any problems were discussed and actions agreed.”

Priestley College Hockey pitch

To install a sand-dressed hockey pitch also suitable for a range of other sports.

The state-of-the-art pitch, which is available to both students studying sport academically and to select outside organisations, earned Blakedown 10 out of 10 on a customer satisfaction questionnaire. The client appreciated Blakedown’s commitment to quality and value for money.

Blackpool MUGAs (Multi-Use Games Areas)

Over the course of three years, Blackpool Borough Council employed Blakedown to install a number of new-build projects and carry out refurbishments at a variety of parks and schools.

The constructions included installing porous polymeric surface, fencing with recess goals and rebound boards and a range of different sports goals.

Completed sites include: Claremont Park, Roseacres School, Bispham Endowed School, St Mary’s School, Ancursholme School, Woodlands School, St George’s High School and Stanley School.

English Institute of Sport, Manchester Athletics track

Construction of a 400m Athletic Track and pitch for Field Events, to the IAAF International Standard for 2002, on a brownfield site. This facility was used as a training track for the 2002 Commonwealth Games and 2004 GB selection trials for the Athens Olympics.

Flyde RUFC, Lancashire Rubgy pitch

Under the RFU Framework Agreement, which aim is to provide sports facilities to achieve excellence in sport, Blakedown Sport & Play who were their approved contractor were asked to install a new rugby pitch at Flyde RUFC, in Lancashire (address: Woodlands Memorial Ground, Blackpool Road, Ansdell, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, FY8 4EL).

The 64m x 44m pitch was resurfaced using a 3rd generation Tiger Turf ER65R artificial grass carpet, which was installed on top of a Brock shockpad. The project was completed with perimeter fencing and floodlighting.

Ryelands Estate, Lancaster Variety of sports facilities

The construction of a wide variety of sports facilities at Ryelands Estate.

This included:

• Installation of a 30m x 18m porous macadam multi-use games area for five-a-side football and basketball, with a 3m-high perimeter weldmesh fence and 1.2m rebound boards.
• A skatepark, including two 9m-diameter concrete bowls with grind rails.
• A junior play area with a pre-formed, safety-tiled surface with play equipment such as swings, a spring ride, spring seesaw, whirl and fun trial.
• The project was completed with tarmac footpaths, a vast amount of landscaping and planting of shrubs. The whole site was enclosed with 1.2m bowtop perimeter fencing.

St Benedicts RUFC, Cumbria Rugby and football pitch

A new 61m x 42.5m Tiger Turf sand- and rubber-filled 3rd generation pitch for rugby and football use at St Benedicts RUFC.

The carpet was laid on a Brock shockpad, which was in turn laid on a stone raft foundation. The pitch was completed with fencing and floodlighting, five-a-side and various rugby markings, as well as a newly resurfaced car park.

Stanney High School, Cheshire Running track

Cheshire County Council funded the construction of a full-size running track at Stanney High School. The six-lane running track with an eight-lane sprint straight scheme also boasts two 9m by 6m sand pits, complete with two runways for the long jump and a separate pole vault area.

The reconstruction of the natural field in the middle of the track was also included in the project and is to be used for soccer and rugby, as well as athletic field events, for which a complete IAAF cage has been installed for hammer and discus.

The scheme is fully fenced for security and is completed with a full floodlighting system.

The Oval Sports Centre, Wirral Five-a-side pitches

Blakedown Sport & Play was contracted to design and build eight 3rd generation five-a-side pitches for The Oval Sports Centre, Wirral, Merseyside. The installation included ball-stop perimeter fencing and floodlighting.

Timperley Hockey Club, Cheshire Upgrade of pitch facility

Complete upgrade of the existing double-pitch facility. This included:

Pitch 1: Extension of pitch dimensions to meet FIH (International Hockey Federation) requirements and a full re-construction incorporating new drainage, tarmacadam, shockpad, fencing and floodlighting. The surface FIH-approved sand-dressed synthetic surface is finished with a unique blue run-off surround.

Pitch 2: The existing carpet was removed, the prefabricated shockpad re-laid to include topping, and all seams were glued. The new pitch was a sand-filled LSR synthetic surface for multi use sports.

University of Leeds Sports pitch

Blakedown Sport & Play installed one of the industry’s latest systems at Leeds University. A full-size Tiger Turf 3rd generation sports pitch with rubber and sand infill was installed onto a dynamic stone base with the unique American shockpad Brock system, which complies with FIFA & RIB approved testing.

The project also included construction of a retaining wall, resurfacing their full-size pitch with sand-dressed carpet and 6 existing five-a-side pitches. All were finished with fencing and floodlighting systems.

University of York Tennis courts

Blakedown Sport & Play were commissioned to resurface the University’s existing block of six tennis courts.

The courts were resurfaced with green acrylic-coated macadam with dark green surrounds. They were painted with white line markings for tennis and yellow markings for netball, and completed with new fencing.

Wickersley School & Sports College, Rotherham Upgrade of sports facilities

Blakedown Sport & Play was contracted to upgrade the sports facilities including the upgrade of the existing tarmac base of the sports pitch and resurfaced with a 15mm in-situ shock pad and an Edel Nature 52mm 3rd generation surface for football use.

The facility was completed with the latest fencing system, which uses 3m-high panels and combines excellent rebound properties and ball retention.

Wirral Tennis Centre Five-a-side pitches

Blakedown Sport & Play was employed to install four 3rd generation five-a-side pitches onto the existing tennis facility. We also constructed a new access and car park.