From Tired to Inspired, Notts Sport revitilise football facilities

Youngsters are reaping the benefits of the remarkable transformation of football facilities at their east London secondary school - all thanks to the involvement of leading synthetic surfacing specialist Notts Sport.

The opening of a brand new, third generation artificial turf football pitch at Woodbridge High School in Woodford Green has finally brought to fruition a plan which had been several years in the making.

The superb new floodlit pitch, officially unveiled by Ilford North MP Lee Scott and former Mayor of Redbridge Thomas Chan following an installation project-managed by Notts Sport, is a far cry from the substandard facilities previously available at the school.

Jeremy Clifton, Assistant Headteacher at Woodbridge High School, said: "What we had before was a barren area of grass which had to be fenced off between November and March because it became so muddy and boggy in the wet weather and then rutted and rock hard when it froze.

"Now we can play football all year round every day of the week whether it's dark or light, and a lot of children are now able to enjoy the game who wouldn't otherwise have played at all."

Just over half of the cost of the facilities has been met by grass roots sports charity the Football Foundation, with the remainder paid for by the school itself with the help of contributions from the PTA and two local partner football clubs, Woodford Youth FC and Ryan FC.

The entire project - including help to secure funding and planning consent - was overseen by Notts Sport after the internationally-acclaimed company was contacted by Redbridge Borough Council for advice, the council and Notts Sport having worked together on other successful projects in the past.

Notts Sport oversaw the construction, completed by Oxfordshire-based Blakedown Sport and Play, who won a formal tender to carry out the eight-week installation of a specialist third generation artificial turf surface laid onto a porous macadam base following an excavation and levelling of the existing sloped grassed area.

Now, the pitch is enjoyed not only by Woodbridge pupils, but also by youngsters from surrounding schools and football teams across the borough day and night, seven days a week.

Mr Clifton added: "These new facilities have been a long time in the planning, and we've had to overcome a lot of hurdles and put in a lot of hard work to see the project through - so it's incredibly satisfying to see such a successful result.

"Notts Sport went through all the ups and downs with us and I'm really impressed with the high standard of service the company provided. They certainly put the customer first and they did everything possible to make the project happen.

"It was more than about just paying money and doing a job, they went beyond what I would have expected and I would recommend them to anyone."