Bishops Cleeve, Ready for Kick Off

Bishops Cleeve (Gloucestershire) can be justly proud of its sporting facilities now the prestigious new 'Multi Use Sports Area' project is complete.

Specialist sports constructors 'Kinnear Sports' were asked to turn part of a previously well worn playing field into a 'state of the art' games area. In addition 6 mini-soccer pitches, 1 junior and 4 senior soccer pitches as well as a rugby pitch for use by local teams had to be marked out and equipped.

Initial investigations were carried out; locating services etc. before excavation and levelling work commenced, and a temporary access road was installed for the heavy equipment needed to work on the site.

After the base stone was laid the job of installing 205m of high quality Galvanised Sports Rebound fencing began. This 4m high fencing is designed not only to keep games balls within the area but also to protect the playing surface from mis-aimed footballs on the adjacent pitches.

On the playing surface itself a specialist rubber crumb surface has been laid beneath the 3rd generation synthetic turf, to act as a shock absorber protecting players from stress related injuries.

The project was due to be finished by the Autumn but was hampered by the unusually wet weather experienced during the late Summer and early Autumn. Kinnear Sports site supervisor, Steve Hicks added, "The inclement weather has at times proved very frustrating for all concerned, however with the pitch now completed I am sure that the sports players of Bishops Cleeve will find it well worth the wait."

With the final details of line marking and floodlights now in place an official opening ceremony is being planned for the near future