Adrian Partridge
“The stadium pitch has been multicored on a regular basis during the wetter months to a depth of 100mm, the maximum working depth allowed due to the undersoil heating system”
Indoor pool at the Academy
Academy Gymnasium
depth of 100mm, the maximum working depth allowed due to the undersoil heating system.
End of season Renovations Adrian usually Koros off the surface
vegetation and reseeds, but this year he wants to maintain some established grass. His end of season renovations are due to start on the 17th May when he will scarify the pitch in several directions and remove all debris. The pitch will then be overseeded with Barenbrug Bar 7 at a rate of 25-35 m2 and finally topdressed with 50 tonnes of compatible sand to restore levels. To help get the pitch through to the end of the season Adrian has already applied some seed and 15 0 10 NPK fertilizer.
2 Academy of Light.
The academy is a superb complex, with state of the art gyms, medical and swimming facilities. The grounds consist of four playing plateaus that offer large training areas for practices and matches.
Glen Campbell is in charge of the site. The pitches are used by all the club’s teams - seniors, reserves and youth side train during the week, averaging at least three hours play per day, with several matches played at weekends.
There is one reinforced fibre sand pitch, mirroring the stadium’s, along with ten rootzone constructed pitches, which are built on top of heavy clay. The weather is a key factor, the pitches have been laid out in four separate bowled areas with grass banks surrounding each pitch area. The site is very exposed to north easterly coastal winds so, not
surprisingly, tree planting is high on Glen’s agenda.
Further drainage improvements are planned and the possible completion of an indoor training facility. As for day-to-day maintenance, grid and pitch areas are marked out on a daily basis. Grass height throughout the playing season is kept at 27mm using a combination of Toro triple and Allett pedestrian mowers. The club is currently building a new permanent storage and mess room facility for their machinery and materials. End of season maintenance will mirror that of the stadium pitch - scarification, over seeding and top dressing of all areas.
Glen, like Adrian, is committed to providing first class facilities for the playing staff of Sunderland FC and, like many Sunderland fans, he is hopeful that Kevin Ball will be able to turn the club around and provide the impetus to make the club successful again in the forseeable future.
Academy Pitches -o
fibre sand and ten rootzone
one reinforced
protected in bowled areas
Academy Pitches are
The Stadium of Light - looking good
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