When looking to replace a cricket field lost in recent redevelopment, St. George’s Weybridge turned to our dedicated cricket division to design and construct a unique solution for their requirements, having worked with S&C Slatter previously on the refurbishment of their hockey pitch.
Our expert teams designed and constructed two bespoke extra-width non-turf cricket pitches that enable simultaneous match play, while keeping batters running between the wickets on the synthetic grass, and maximising pitch hire revenue.
St. George’s Weybridge is a leading independent co-educational Roman Catholic day school in Surrey, boasting an array of facilities across two expansive sites, including a wealth of indoor and outdoor sports pitches, tracks and courts.
Having embarked on an extensive, eco-friendly, thermal heating project on their College grounds, the school required the relocation of one of their cricket squares, which was situated on land earmarked for the new development.
Sport is an important part of the culture at St. George’s Weybridge, where ‘a variety of opportunities in sports for all is essential for both health and fitness, as well as the sense of achievement and value that active participation and successful competition bring.’
As well as offering sport for all ages and abilities at the school, there is a desire to ‘fully extend our most talented performers and enable them to play at the highest possible standard’ meaning that facilities are constructed to the very highest specifications for optimum performance.
Cricket is one of the school’s main sports for both boys and girls, so as part of the cricket pitch relocation, the school identified an opportunity to further their cricket offering by constructing two new pitches instead of one.
Further to this, the school’s cricket facilities are also available to hire, so the new pitches had to be suitable for club play and satisfy the clubs who would frequently use them.
S&C Slatter were already known to St. George’s Weybridge, having worked with us previously on the refurbishment and extension of their sand-dressed hockey pitch.
Confident in the quality of construction and performance standard our teams would bring to the project, the school turned to our expert Cricket Division for their new cricket facilities.
Taking into considering the school’s needs and the new location of the cricket facilities, our team designed 2x bespoke 4m wide non-turf cricket pitches, providing the consistent performance of a high quality grass pitch with improved durability, safety and all-weather usage.
At 4m wide (more than 1m wider than a standard non-turf pitch), players are able to run between the wickets entirely on the synthetic grass, protecting the natural grass alongside the pitches while ensuring a stable, consistent surface for players. The placement of the two new pitches allows for simultaneous play, with the school able to put on two matches in one location, or offer differing levels of coaching by ability during one games session.
Using the Notts Sport NottsBase D System, the same pitch systems used at Lord’s, the two cricket pitches are constructed to the highest performance standards, allowing pupils to learn and play on a top-quality surface while ensuring a desirable facility for pitch hire.
When speaking with Grounds Manager Rob Deacock, he explained that Weybridge Cricket Club were initially hesitant about the move from the natural grass pitch they usually hired, to the new non-turf cricket pitches. However, after trying them out, club members were amazed by the quality and the pitches are now booked out by the club every weekend during the cricket season for their men’s, women’s and junior cricket matches!
As for pupils at the school, Rob commented that the pitches have been a great success. With additional markings for practice and games sessions, the two pitches are utilised for games, cricket practice and matches.
Working collaboratively with St. George’s Weybridge to understand their needs, S&C Slatter successfully relocated the school’s cricket facility, increasing the available facilities on-site with the design and construction of two bespoke non-turf cricket pitches suitable for games, match play and external club hire.
By introducing a bespoke 4m-wide pitch design, the surrounding natural grass is protected by the extra wide non-turf surface while running between wickets. Using a Notts Sport NottsBase D System design from our partners Notts Sport, players enjoy the same non-turf playing surface used by Lord’s, also constructed by S&C Slatter.
Feedback from the school’s cricket-loving students has been great, as well as feedback from staff, with the school able to run multiple matches at once. The additional markings mean that as well as match play, the pitches can be used for coaching as well as games sessions, maximising the usage of the pitches across ages and abilities.
With maintaining revenue from pitch hire an additional factor when relocating the pitches, the top-quality non-turf surface and construction has even won over Weybridge Cricket Club, who were reluctant to lose their grass cricket square. After playing on the new surfaces, the club haven’t looked back, securing revenue for the school through their recurring hire of the pitches for match play and training.
We’re thrilled to have delivered this highly successful cricket pitch relocation at St. George’s Weybridge and it was wonderful to return to site after completing their hockey pitch to construct another first-class sporting facility.
Slatter Cricket & Play is a specialist division of S&C Slatter with an exceptional heritage in building cricket and play facilities, dating back to the company’s formation in 1991.
Projects range substantially in size, complexity and application but all continue to embrace and exhibit the same attention to detail and commitment to outstanding personal customer service.
Call 01635 34521 or email enquiries@slattercricketplay.com to talk to our experts.
