Synthetic Sports Surfaces

Most sports are now played on synthetic or artificial sports surfaces at both competitive and recreational levels. 3G rubber-filled sports pitches have transformed the availability, durability, and accessibility of football and rugby facilities for school and community user groups across the country.

Hockey, netball, basketball, and athletics are almost exclusively played on synthetic surfaces at a competitive level, and other sports such as tennis, volleyball, cricket, and badminton have also benefitted from the development in sports surface technology.

3G artificial turf football pitch with three cross-play mini pitches

Third Generation football pitch at Holy Trinity Academy

A 3G rubber-filled pitch being constructed in London

Five-a-side 3G football pitches in Wembley, London

3G rugby and football pitch at Stretford Sports Village

Green polymeric multi-use games area in London

Astroturf hockey pitch at Surbiton High School

Athletics track and outdoor gym construction by Blakedown

Choice of Synthetic Surface

3G (Third Generation): A 3G pitch is an artificial grass surface with an infill system of sand and rubber crumb: primarily designed for football and rugby.
Sand-dressed: Specialist synthetic surface with a reduced sand infill so that play takes place on the actual turf, not sand. Ideal for hockey and suitable for many other sports.
Sand-filled: The orginal 'astroturf' surface: ideal for multi-use facilities, can cater for hockey, tennis, netball, basketball, football and a range of other sports.
Water-based: The top-specification hockey surface, used for international and top-level competitve hockey. Play takes place on the turf directy, with an 'infill' of water to speed up ball roll.
Polymeric: A textured rubber sports surface ideal for athletics tracks, and long and triple jump sprints. Polymeric is also an option for multi-use games areas and some courts.
Tarmac: An economical and extremely durable surface: ideal for netball and good for basketball, tennis and many other sports and activities. Can also be sprayed with acrylic to enhance performance.

Two full-size 3G fotball pitches, eight tarmac tennis and netball courts, a polymeric sprint straight, a MUGA, and a natural grass football pitch at the Wright Robinson Sports College in Manchester

What Blakedown offer...

Blakedown Sport & Play is one of the most well-known names in synthetic sports surface construction. We offer the complete, in-house, design and build service for any type of synthetic sports surface or natural grass facility.

From the ground up, we take care of the earthworks, base construction, drainage system, installation of the playing surface, ancillary works such as fencing and floodlighting, as well as landscaping, spectator facilities, player changing facilities and maintenance.