In 2014 Sacred Heart secondary school was transformed into the university Academy of engineering (UAE) under the umbrella of the Southbank University. In 2018 project manager Jamie Waller and head of physical education Giles Smith investigated the upgrade their existing games area to an artificial grass surface.
Having discussed the project with other manufacturers, it was decided a tufted product would be the best possible option, the school contacted Steve Byrnes from Playrite, and a site meeting was arranged to discuss the options that UK manufacturer PlayRite and approved partner ETC Sports Surfaces Ltd could offer.
Playrite having the largest range of artificial sport surfaces in the UK were able to offer the tufted solution, but it was felt the Matchplay 2, needle punch surface would give the school more versatility, with less maintenance and better porosity.
ETC sports an approved partner with Playrite are SAPCA (Sports and Play Contractors Association) accredited sports pitch and tennis court contractors, were appointed as the main contractor, this included removing fencing, installation of a dividing net system, base remedial and porosity repairs, the installation of an in-situ rubber crumb shockpad and installation of Matchplay 2.
The Matchplay 2 has now been in operation for almost two years. This has given the University great versatility with inlaid lines for 3no. tennis courts, 3no. netball courts, hockey and 7-a-side pitch.
This project has proved to be a great, cost-effective solution to upgrading an existing, poorly draining, fretted macadam surface.
Here at Playrite we offer 7 MUGA surface options, all with unique preference and playing characteristics.
When choosing a MUGA surface you need to consider a few things….
This will depend on the type of sport you are wanting to play on the surface. If the primary sports require a ball bounce, such as tennis and basketball then no shock pad will be needed.
However, if football is to be the primary sport, a shock pad will be needed. This will provide protection to players when they fall and will reduce ball bounce.
A MUGA surface is an all-weather, synthetic sports pitch that can be used all year round.
Different surfaces will provide variable drainage options. Needlepunch is the most durable and will drain faster than a conventional tufted surface. It is not recommended to remove snow from your MUGA surface, however, it will thaw quicker than a standard hard surface.
Playrite offers a 5-year manufacturers warranty for any defects found in your surface. The smaller the surface, the more durable a surface you require.
On average, a well used MUGA should last around 7 to 10 years, depending on the size.
Tufted type surfaces are restricted to 3 colours; terracotta, light green and blue. However, our needle punch surfaces are readily available in 12 colours. If your facility requires a specific Pantone colour, this can also be considered.
If you’re looking to install a multi-use games area (or MUGA), we have all the products, experience and service you need. Our MUGA pitches are suitable for a range of sports including rugby, football, hockey, tennis, basketball and much more. Our solutions have been installed in a number of schools and sports clubs up and down the country as well as exported for use abroad.
As the only company to offer tufted, needlepunch and woven surfaces, we are a niche in the market!
It is our goal at Playrite to achieve and maintain market leadership in the sports surfaces industry by providing exacting quality and superior service!
As well as being totally free, here are just a few reasons why YOU need to be one of our Approved Partners!
We will provide you with…
Our Ethos:
Our team at Playrite aim to achieve and maintain market leadership in the sports surfaces market, by providing quality products and services of excellence through the constant development of people, products and processes.
We also pride ourselves in working closely with our approved partners, building long-term relationships and providing ongoing support to ensure we jointly deliver on each and every project!
Become an Approved Partner and contact our team today: +01924 926632 / info@playrite.co.uk
Tennis tournaments across the world are played on a range of different surfaces, each of which has its own characteristics that impact the match in a different way. From indoor surfaces to industry-leading clay courts, our unique range offers comfort underfoot as well as the ability to take spin and slice.
Matchclay simulates natural clay courts without the high maintenance requirements and is relatively quick and low cost to install, so provides an ideal solution for clubs wanting to continue with clay courts without extensive all year round maintenance costs.
When filled with clay this surface is classified to ITF Category 1 Slow pace. Fully adhered or loose laid, Matchclay is a cost-effective solution to natural clay.
Clayrite is a tufted monofilament or fibrillated yarn which mimics the look and play of a natural clay surface. Its sand topdressing helps provide the same ball speed and bounce like that of a traditional clay court.
Clayrite is the complete artificial alternative to our Matchclay surface having a sand-filled system and can be installed onto existing or new hard porous courts.
Matchplay 2 is an ideal all-round club level choice due to its high performance and durability.
Available in a range of colours, Matchplay 2 is ideal for coaching due to its consistent ball bounce and high porosity level which allows all-weather usage, maximising playing time.
This is our most popular tennis surface. It is suited for high-level tennis players who want a faster pace, texturised yarn surface. Its unique surface provides unrivalled durability and performance.
Grandplay has been designed to simulate a natural grass court with a positive grip underfoot, making it the preferred choice for many clubs.
Winner 15 is the preferred choice of the higher level tennis player that wants the fastest court pace with a positive grip, comfort and a degree of spin.
The unique two-tone green and terracotta colour designs look stunning in situ and will definitely give your club the wow factor.
Uniquely positioned as the only manufacturer of all three types of artificial surfaces; Tufted, Woven and Needlepunch, Playrite are the only company within the sports industry that can offer totally impartial advice on the type of tennis surface to suit your club’s needs.
With our range of different surfaces to suit the requirements of the club, the standard of tennis and your budget and maintenance requirements. We can help you find the right artificial surface for your tennis club.
Over the past 10 years, synthetic turf has significantly advanced and a debate has sparked over whether synthetic surfaces are better than natural grass. With many English Premiership Rugby Union teams using 3G pitches now, are they actually better than the original? Here’s why we stand with 3G Rugby Pitches.
Reduced Risk of Injury
Initial costs of 3G turf is much more expensive due to the complexity of installation. In order to start the installation, the surface would typically require full removal and disposal of the existing surface. For clubs, the initial cost isn’t much of a worry because of the benefits this can have in the long-term.
When installing a synthetic surface, specialist surfaces can be underlaid to provide added benefits. Usually, specialist shockpad tiles are used underneath to cushion a player’s body during a fall. This added protection and reduces the risk of injury during a game which helps matches run more smoothly.
Unlike natural grass, 3G pitches can be used all-year-round and can withstand much more than real grass. For rugby clubs that wish to train very regularly throughout the week, natural grass can become extremely muddy and hard to perform on. With synthetic surfaces, you’re able to perform your best all-year-round and have the guarantee that you can use it no matter what the weather.
If a rugby team is under intense competition, synthetic grass surfaces may be their only option. With the need for constant training, natural grass would begin to deteriorate. With synthetic grass, you won’t experience any bald patches, soft ground or mud.
Despite 3G pitches being more expensive, they require much less maintenance and can be used much more often. Once you have payed the first initial cost, you will have to do small checks every so often just to ensure it is performing how it should be. The surface will only need to be cleaned, aerated and brushed once a year so you virtually never have to worry.
The only thing you will need to ensure is that litter and rubbish is picked up from your surface to prevent any contamination from algae or moss.
If you find your surface not being used as often as it could be, renting it out to local teams or sports clubs can be a great business opportunity. This additional income can also help you pay for more upgrades for your club or community.
Due to 3G pitches being able to be used 7 days a week, you can get full use out of your surface – even if its not by your team.
Due to the advanced technology being put into artificial grass, performance has been increased so players can be quicker with their movements.
The rubber infills of synthetic surfaces enables the roll and bounce of the ball to be just as if it were real grass.
There are so many benefits to 3G rugby pitches and with more advantages given than natural grass – they are becoming incredibly more and more popular. At Playrite, our rugby surfaces are designed to be safe, durable and consistent which closely replicate the experience of a natural grass pitch. For more information on rugby surfaces please visit this page.
The decision was made that Playrite 30PB artificial grass would be overlaid over the shockpad tiles.
The Challenge
Crescents Park play area, located in Stockport, is a council owned development. In 2017, the local council had raised a concern for the safety of young children playing in this area.
The local council development office specified that the park required more critical fall height protection to ensure children were safe on all of the park’s equipment.
The council had proposed that shockpad tiles, with up to 1.7 metre fall protection, would be used and then overlaid with an artificial grass surface.
The Result
After many consultations with the council, Premier Recreation (project coordinators) and Groundworks Manchester (the contractors involved) the decision was made that Playrite 30PB artificial grass would be overlaid over the shockpad tiles.
The 30PB is manufactured using the finest material and traditional techniques that features a natural look and feel.
In December 2017 the project was completed. Crescent Park now has a natural looking surface with CFH protection tiles laid underneath to ensure safety standards are kept high.
The local council are delighted with their new surface and parents can now have the guarantee that their children are safe at all times in the play area.
After consultations and site meetings with the school, it was decided that Playrite’s Matchplay 2 Multi-sport Needlepunch Surface would be an ideal choice for the proposed scheme.
The Challenge
At the start of 2019, Playrite were approached by Dura-Sport Ltd, located in Leicester, who had been appointed by Krishna Avanti Primary School. Krishna Avanti Primary School in Leicester is a Hindu faith free school which currently has 360 pupils. The school prides itself on moral, social and spiritual development.
The school had contacted Dura-Sport Ltd to upgrade their existing macadam area, approximately 2000 square metres, to a synthetic surface that would be suitable for multi-sport activities.
After consultations and site meetings with the school, it was decided that Playrite’s Matchplay 2 Multi-sport Needlepunch Surface would be an ideal choice for the proposed scheme.
Dura-Sport Ltd had previously worked with Playrite on a number of projects and had no doubt that Matchplay 2 would be perfect for the school’s requirements.
The Result
Manufactured In the UK, Matchplay 2 is a highly durable, low maintenance surface which is particularly suited to netball, tennis, football and hockey – these of which were high on the schools list of primary sports.
During the early Spring of 2019, Dura-Sport Ltd completed the 2000 square metre installation of the MUGA in a striking two- tone color scheme consisting of Playrite green playing area with a blue surround. Inlaid lines were also provided for tennis, netball, hockey and football to help the school have maximum multi-use out of their new surface.
The school announced that they were delighted with the installation and the level of service provided by both Playrite and Dura-Sport Ltd. The new surface is now being enjoyed on a daily basis by pupils and is enhancing their physical education experience.
The installation comprised of approximately 1100 square metres of material over two separate courts.
The Challenge
Talybont-on-Usk is a village in Powys, Wales, lying in the shadow of the breathtakingly picturesque county of Brecknockshire. Situated next to both the River Caerfanell and the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, the village is a very popular area with locals and tourists.
The existing worn surfaces no longer fitted the community’s requirements and for many years, the community council had been fundraising to upgrade a block of two tennis courts on the village playing field. The criteria outlined by the council, for the synthetic playing surface, was met by the choice of Playrite’s Champion 20 – 20mm pile tufted synthetic grass. Their persistence paid off earlier this year when work was able to begin to upgrade the courts.
The Result
Playrite surface Champion 24 is manufactured in West Yorkshire and is an all-round, hardwearing surface particularly suited for multi-sport use including tennis, netball, football and basketball. This synthetic surface perfectly suited the council’s requirements as well as the budget for the project.
The installation comprised of approximately 1100 square metres of material over two separate courts, this was carried out by Inscapes ltd & Folly Contractors Ltd.
The courts were completed at the start of 2019. The community council are delighted with the facility and know that it will encourage the locals to enjoy the outdoors and have fun whilst getting fitter.
After much discussion, it was decided that Playrite Conqueror 60MF was the preferred pitch surface for the project.
Located in Rochdale, The Soccer Factory has a total of 10 pitches and is home to one of the largest indoor pitches in the northwest. Open all-year-round, the pitches are regularly used by professional football clubs as well as local junior teams.
Next to The Soccer Factory stood a wasteland with much potential for them to expand even further. Before any decision making was done, the wasteland was home to a disused water tank and pipes. The owners had to excavate the area and install a full concrete base and drainage before any work was done.
After much discussion, it was decided that Playrite Conqueror 60MF was the preferred pitch surface for the project. Conqueror is our 3G sports surface range that mimics that of a natural turf area but with lower maintenance costs. Filled with sand and rubber, it will perform at a professional playing standard for football. Near to the end of 2017, self-installation on the project had begun.
The new outdoor development is a fully fenced in 5 a-side pitch with floodlighting which compliments the existing indoor facility. The Soccer Factory is glad to have more facility space for the local 5 a-side teams and junior players to enjoy.
Thringstone Primary School in Coalville, Leicester, were keen to create a new MUGA after receiving generous funding. They wished to provide a sports facility that not only benefitted the pupils at the school, but the local community as a whole. The required a multi-sport friendly surface which would enable people of all ages and abilities to enjoy a range of sports.
After much discussion with Fosse Contracts Ltd (the appointed contractors for the project) and the school, the final decision was made. Playrite’s Matchplay 2 Needlepunch surface ticked all the boxes of the criteria.
Manufactured in West Yorkshire, the surface provides a high level of performance for a variety of sports including tennis, netball, football, hockey and basketball. Matchplay 2 is unique to Playrite and offers low maintenance compared to other synthetic surfaces.
The facility at Thringstone primary school was completed in early 2019. 700 square metres of Playrite Matchplay 2 Surface, in the popular Playrite green color, was installed over an impact absorbing 10mm Matchpad 1500shockpad. To complete the project, inlaid lines were added to make multi-sport use easier for the school.
The area is now being enjoyed on a daily basis by the school’s pupils and is also available for hire during the evenings and weekends.
This has been a big success for the school, and is proving to be very popular with local sports groups.
The area is now a fantastic resource to allow children to enjoy sports and exercise every day, no matter what the weather.
Thanks to companies like Tennis World accessibility to grass roots tennis has now been well-established making it enjoyable, open, welcoming and relevant to everyone.
Tennis World have recently upgraded their playing surfaces at their state-of-the art facility in Middlesbrough. In the past Tennis World has served up several Wimbledon aces, now Middlesbrough’s largest independent tennis club has had its first makeover in 30 years. In 2018 Tennis World was given a six-figure “New lease of life” with world-standard indoor and outdoor courts. Tennis World is unique in having 4 indoor and 6 outdoor courts. The recent refurbishment would enable a brand-new suite of playing surfaces to be installed, delivering both top performance and playability.
In providing new courts, the choice of playing surfaces where the general public and future champions could practice and compete on would be crucial. Tennis World would ultimately choose Yorkshire-based Playrite to supply their Matchplay 2 product to meet and surpass their stringent requirements.
Playrite is a division of National Floorcoverings, a UK family owned group of companies dating back to 1873. The business has a combined experience in a vast array of flooring types. Playrite is the only UK Company to develop, design and manufacture all three types of artificial surface for sports and leisure, Tufted, Needlepunch and Woven.
Nigel Garton, Centre Manager, Tennis World commented, “We opted for the Playrite Matchplay 2 product for a few reasons. Outdoors we wanted an all-weather medium paced artificial grass surface.” He added, “We had visited various venues and tried various surfaces in the winter as we needed a surface which was playable during or immediately after rain. This was important to us as in the North East of England as we have so much bad weather.
“Commenting on the indoor performance requirements Nigel Garton further said, “We decided we wanted a needlepunch surface as our research revealed this would be the hardest wearing medium-paced product and would be a great surface for all ages and standards. Also, Playrite are the only company using green and purple which we wanted as my research told me purple is the polar-opposite colour to the yellow ball but also the colours look very good”.
Nigel Garton added, “The Playrite surfaces are excellent both in and outdoors. As soon as it stops raining outside you can play on them. Also, the bounce and comfort indoors are second to none.”
Ken Smith, Area Sales Manager, Playrite Ltd, commented, “Our Matchplay 2 surface was initially recommended by a technical consultant known to Nigel Garton at Tennis World. We visited Tennis World with sample products and supporting information plus further research. A visit by Tennis World staff to an existing tennis club using Matchplay 2 influenced their final decision.” On challenges about the installation Ken Smith went on to further comment, “We had to ensure that the purple court colour fibre which was not a standard colour at that time could be sourced, manufactured and approved by Tennis World, all within budget and on time.” He added, “A great tennis surface needs to be tested to industry standards with a performance level to suit specific club and player requirements. It’s also crucial to have a no-nonsense installation, aesthetically pleasing, low maintenance and be made in the UK.”
Ken Smith concluded, “We developed an excellent working relationship with Tennis World by supplying a good line of communication and support throughout the specification and installation process.” Adding comment Nigel Garton said, “Playrite have been first class on our pre-installation and sourced clubs that allowed us try out the Matchplay 2 product. Playrite also finished on time and were always on hand to talk to us even when they were on holiday.”
Nigel Garton ended by saying, “On the whole all the feedback has been very positive on both Playrite surfaces. I always highly recommend Playrite to any clubs looking to resurface and would definitely use them again in the future.”Playrite have been manufacturing sport and play surfaces in Yorkshire since 1991 with the parent company dating back even further. Playrite supply products throughout the UK and export their surfaces for installation on a Worldwide basis. Playrite offer a wide range of surfaces for sports, playgrounds, multi-use sports areas and artificial grass for gardens.
Playrite was approached by Groundwork for Manchester City Council and tasked with replacing the park’s aged and worn wet-pour rubber base with a new Playsafe surface.
The council has recently fitted new play equipment – including slides and swings – at Hollyhedge park and Playrite’s installation of a new Playsafe system provides landing protection in line with critical fall height risk.
