PITCH MANAGEMENT
TWO STADIUMS,
TWO CONTRACTORS, ONE TURF
Lindum's Lokturf has been used to re-surface two
stadiums this summer: St. Mary's, home of Southampton
Saints and the JJB Stadium, Wigan.
L
okturf is a reinforced turf farm near York. Kestrel Contractors
for instant use, 40 mm thick laid the turf, which was harvested in
grown by seeding hard big 1.1 metre wide rolls, having
wearing cultivars of perennial stripped the surface and incorporated
ryegrass and smooth stalked 350 tonnes of sand into the existing
meadow grass into Loksand, a rootzone. “The club were concerned
polypropylene reinforced rootzone. that the profile wasn't deep enough,”
Sean Goodwin, Director of Talbot says Billy Martin, Kestrel's Sales
Sports Turf Installation, who renovated Director. “Due to the rootzone profile
Southampton FC's pitch being turfed with Lindum Lokturf. Photo credit: Lindum Turf.
the JJB Stadium, says that as both being only 225mm there was not
rugby league and professional football sufficient head to make the pitch drain
are played at the venue his client freely.” The ameliorated sand, coupled introduces a shock absorbing effect.
wanted a reinforced surface. “We'd with the Lokturf at 40mm thick added Stephen Fell, Managing Director of
used Lokturf successfully on a number the extra depth needed to the soil Lindum turf emphasises that the quality
of previous occasions and it seemed the profile, and Kestrel, whilst laser of the fibre rootzone is paramount.
right choice here,” he explains. Talbot grading, took the opportunity to put a “Tarmac Topsport have invested
Sports Turf Installation laid 10,000 sq slight camber on the pitch. heavily in specialist machinery to blend
metres of the fibre- reinforced turf By the end of August, St. Mary's the fibres evenly with the winter sports
having removed the existing turf and had hosted six games and two training rootzone. This is so important if we are
The completed JJB Stadium pitch
rootzone. The contractors then applied sessions. By the start of the football to produce a thick reinforced turf of following turfing with Lindum's Lokturf.
2500 tonnes of new rootzone and season the JJB Stadium had seen seven even thickness”.
Photo credit: Lindum Turf.
incorporated a fibresand concentrate. rugby fixtures played on its new “An essential part of producing this,
Andy Gray, Head Groundsman at surface followed by an opening match which is heavy - weighing 65 - 70 encouraging ongoing root development.
St. Mary's was familiar with Lokturf for the 'Latics' against Chelsea FC. kgs/m
2
, is to ensure a dense root “After that, it's over to the groundsman
having used it successfully, whilst Loksand, as used in Lokturf system throughout, which not only to use his skills in managing a
Head Groundsman at Bournemouth. production, is the polypropylene fibre holds all the free draining rootzone reinforced surface, to keep those roots
When it came to re-surfacing St. Marys stabilised rootzone produced by together in an integrated unit, but also growing and avoid compaction”. FSA
he ordered 7,800 sq metres after Tarmac Topsport. The unique crimped ensures that the turf takes rapid hold of
inspecting the turf, (along with his profile of Loksand fibres creates a the compatible stadium rootzone”. For further information on Lindum's
colleague Graeme Mills, Head superior interlock between fibres and Stephen believes that turf nutrition Lokturf, contact the company on
Groundsman of Southampton's sand, which not only gives great prior to transplanting from field to Tel: 01904 448675 or visit their
training grounds), at Lindum's turf stability and reduced divoting but also stadium is a very important part of website at:
www.turf.co.uk
34 | FOOTBALL & SPORTS ARENA | September/October 2008
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