Natural Turf Sports Pitch Case Studies

White Horse Contractors has a substantial heritage in natural turf sports pitch construction, proudly serving professional sports teams, schools and universities across the UK and abroad. These Case Studies demonstrate our expertise in the construction of natural turf pitches for schools and clubs right through to the very highest levels of elite-level sport.

Read more about our natural turf sports pitch construction services or our natural turf sports pitch renovation options.

To speak with our specialist team, please contact us on 01865 736 272 or email us.

Kenilworth Road Renovations for Luton Town FC

Following a successful program of pitch renovations at Luton Town FC’s training ground, White Horse Contractors were selected to renovate the natural turf stadium pitch at Kenilworth Road.
  • Successful completion of renovations to specification and handover date
  • Collaborated with Head Groundsman Richard Bird, to deliver his and the Championship club's preferences on site
  • Overcame bad weather by working evenings and weekends to deliver renovations on time

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Wimborne Town FC Natural Turf Pitches

The Dorset club were able to realise significant capital through the sale of land for residential development to Wyatt Homes.

  • White Horse Contractors designed and constructioned two natural turf pitches
  • Reduced growing-in time by 50%.
  • Overcame poor weather and coronavirus challenges to complete works on schedule.

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Stoneham Lane Natural Turf Pitch Constructions

  • Construction of four natural turf football pitches to Sport England Level 5 Standard
  • Exceeded specified Performance Quality Standards
  • Overcame unusually hard ground to create a safe playing surface
  • Designed and installed an efficient, effective, drainage system
  • Completed the project to agreed timescales and budget
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Welsh Rugby Union Centre of Excellence pitch construction

WHC were appointed to construct four natural grass pitches, three training areas and a world class 130 x 80m 3G artificial turf rugby pitch.

  • Four natural grass pitches.
  • Three training areas.
  • World class 130 x 80m 3G rugby pitch.
  • Gravel drainage layer over the drained formation.
  • Pop-up Irrigation system.

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Derby County Football training ground construction

Built at an overall cost of £5million, the complex covers 50 acres and has six irrigated full size pitches plus an indoor pitch.

  • Built the pitches on preformed platforms.
  • Comprehensive drainage system.
  • Constructed attenuation ponds.
  • Fully irrigated by an automatic pop-up system.
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Chelsea Football Club Pitch Construction

Six full size natural grass football pitches were constructed to a high specification. More than 20,000 tonnes of topsoil was removed from site and even greater volumes of aggregate, sand and rootzone imported.

  • Six full size natural grass football pitches.
  • 20,000 tonnes of topsoil was removed from site.
  • Comprehensive drainage and irrigation system.
  • Innovative under pitch heating
  • 500lux floodlit match pitch of the same dimensions as Stamford Bridge.

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St Georges Park National Football Centre Pitch Construction

White Horse Contractors were selected for this prestigious project, constructing the National Football Centre for The FA’s national squads.

  • 11x premier natural grass pitches.
  • 2x full-size 3G artificial turf pitches.
  • Fully automated irrigation system.
  • Fully automated under-pitch heating.
  • Floodlighting systems to elite pitches.
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St Albans School sports pitch and playing fields construction

White Horse Contractors was appointed principal contractor for the construction of the country’s largest, single, sports pitch development.

  • 20 fully drained, natural-grass, winter-sports pitches
  • Seven cricket squares to minor-county standards.
  • Full-size, artificial-grass hockey/tennis area.
  • Eight tarmacadam tennis courts.
  • Comprehensive irrigation system.
  • Three car parks and feeder roads.

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Danes Hill Preparatory School Landscaping and pitch construction

White Horse Contractors successfully converted 12 acres of steeply sloping, rough, agricultural land into an array of top level artificial and natural sports pitches for use by the 880 pupils of Danes Hill Preparatory School in Surrey.

  • Five natural turf sports pitches.
  • Two cricket pitches.
  • Full size sand-dressed artificial sports pitch
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Durham County Cricket Club outfield drainage and irrigation

As part of the ongoing ECB scheme to improve first class County grounds, White Horse were asked to tender for the ground improvements at The Riverside, home to Durham County Cricket club.

  • Supply and install of a root zone layer.
  • Installation of new drainage.
  • Installation of new bore hole-fed infield irrigation.
  • Supply and lay washed turf.
  • Construction of a bypass drainage system.

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FIFA Club World Cup Football Pitch Construction

White Horse Contractors delivered international standard football pitches; including both tournament match pitches and training pitches; as well as the first full size rugby pitch, to the FIFA Club World Cup Local Organising Committee (LOC) in Abu Dhabi.

  • Two tournament stadia built to FIFA’s 105m x 68m specs.
  • Six training facilities built to FIFA’s 105m x 68m specs.
  • Verti-draining to relieve soil compaction.
  • Verti-cutting to reduce the matting of surface roots.
  • Construction completed in 12 weeks
  • Including all lighting, drainage and fencing
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Middlesbrough Football Club stadium pitch construction

  • Removal of existing soils to gravel layer.
  • Under soil heating.
  • Install fully automatic irrigation system.
  • Dual layer pitch construction.
  • Construction completed in 6 weeks

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