Charlotte Edwards, the Captain of the England women’s cricket team, joined players, parents, club members and sponsors at Cam CC in Gloucestershire recently to officially open the club’s new non-turf practice facility, designed and installed by total-play Ltd.
 
The new 27 metre, 3-lane open facility was completed following a detailed cut and fill operation to create the necessary levels and gradients. Total-play operated as the main contractor on this project liaising with a number of third parties including a local fencing contractor appointed to erect the perimeter security fencing. Despite taking place during harsh winter weather the project was completed within the agreed timescale with no additional costs incurred for remediation, and is now ready for the club to embark on its new training and coaching programme ahead of the 2012 playing season. The new facility should help Cam CC in its goal of retaining both junior and senior players, and in encouraging women’s participation in the sport.
 
Club secretary Brian Everett says:

“Despite the weather, there was a large attendance for the opening and all agreed the installation is very impressive. We’d like to thank total-play for the time spent in the early stages which led to a smooth & speedy installation period and for the way the site staff worked together with our fencing contractor. We would certainly recommend this system to any cricket club.”
 
For further information on the total-play tp365 non-turf system, which carries ECB approval, click here.

Sports surface specialist total-play Ltd is celebrating the completion of a number of high profile projects in and around the capital. The team has been busy installing new cricket facilities at no less than three clubs in the London area, including OD Cuaco Cricket Club in Beckenham, Purley Cricket Club in Surrey and at Bushy Park-based Teddington CC, in addition to refurbishing a series of match pitches in Regent’s Park and at Thornton Heath Recreation Ground in Croydon.

While total-play’s ECB approved non-turf match and practice system, tp365, was central to all of these projects, the facilities were specifically designed in each case to meet the club’s individual objectives.
At OD Cuaco’s Old Dunstonians ground a new three lane, 27 metre non-turf practice facility was constructed using a bespoke netting system based on total-play’s new Protection Tunnel netting innovation. Constructed using specially powder coated steelwork to blend seamlessly with existing facilities on the site, specialist features include lane gates to prevent unauthorised use, and batting curtains designed to fully enclose the batsman; thus avoiding distractions from activity in other lanes and from passers-by.

The Purley CC project comprises a four lane facility, with two lanes open and two enclosed, enabling it to fit within the site boundary. Bespoke features here include white lines stitched into the playing carpet to aid practice, a sight screen built into the back netting, and the surface being carefully graded into the existing natural turf to avoid any trip hazards.

The new facility at Teddington, meanwhile, was designed to fit within its historic surroundings; Bushy Park being one of Henry VIII’s favourite hunting grounds and still home to a resident deer herd. To help the four lane non-turf pitch facility, with large adjoining Mixed Use Games Area, blend with its surroundings green netting and steelwork have been used to reduce visual impact and the entire facility is fully enclosed to protect other park users from flying balls.

In Regent’s Park the total-play team is nearing completion of refurbishment works on three old match pitches on behalf of the Royal Parks Authority. The new pitches will benefit from the ECB approved tp365 non-turf system, designed to offer cricket players a balanced game between bat and ball, encourage turn and improve the playing experience more than any other artificial surface.

Also on the match pitch front, a new facility has been installed for the London Borough of Croydon at Thornton Heath Recreation Ground, which has become an epicentre of recreation cricket for the local community. The Council is working closely with Surrey CCC to help retain these high levels of participation and use the new pitch as the catalyst for developing formalised teams and fixtures.

total-play’s Project Development Manager, James Coney says:

“We’ve really enjoyed working on these projects and helping to provide the clients with a solution that’s designed to meet their specific needs. While our tp365 non-turf system’s pedigree is often what attracts clubs to use total-play in the first place, we certainly don’t believe in taking a ‘one size fits all’ approach. Each and every project is approached on an individual basis and everything from the geography of the site through to aesthetics, safety and budget are taken into account in the solutions we propose.”

In addition to the ECB approved tp365 system, total-play offers a range of non-turf playing surfaces designed to meet all standards of play and budgets – for further details visit www.total-play.co.uk. To discuss the installation of a bespoke match or practice facility or to arrange a site visit call James Coney on 01604 864575.
 

Hosepipe bans may be something we’re accustomed to in summer, but news that seven water companies in the South and East of the country are planning to enforce bans from 5th April – in the critical run-up to the cricket season – is giving clubs a real headache.

While the ECB has urged clubs to make contact with their local water board and put forward their case for the continued use of hose pipes during the ban, there are measures that can be taken to help reduce the impact should the drought continue through the year and enforcements be strengthened and spread across the country. James Coney, Project Development Manager at total-play Ltd, which specialises in the design, construction and maintenance of both natural and non-turf playing surfaces, says:

“The prospect of a hosepipe ban so early in the year is pretty much unheard of and presents something of a nightmare for those responsible for the care of cricket grounds – especially if the drought continues and restrictions are tightened later in the year.

“Perhaps the most future-proof way that clubs can avoid being affected by drought is to consider the installation of a non-turf match pitch. There are non-turf surfaces on the market, including our own ECB approved tp365 system, that are suitable and carry full approval for match play. They are designed to mimic the performance of a premium grass pitch and, with a non-turf table in place clubs can play in all weathers; safe in the knowledge that their valuable wicket won’t be compromised through a lack of water. If clubs act now they could have a new non-turf match surface installed and ready for the summer season.

“However, if the budget won’t run to a new non-turf match pitch it is possible to make the most of the little water available to keep natural pitches in playable condition. Careful maintenance schedules based on the specific type of loam you have, grey water harvesting and the installation of strategically placed irrigation points can all help. The trouble is where to start – total-play can help here, offering a full service whereby we will assess the current situation and type of loam before advising on the nest course of action. We can also carry out the necessary works and even undertake scheduled maintenance works on the club’s behalf, if required.”

To discuss how total-play can help formulate a drought management strategy for your club, or for the installation of a non-turf match pitch please call James Coney on 01604 864575.

The total-play construction team has just finished the refurbishment of a 2-lane practice facility at Essex County Cricket ground. Works included:

1. Lifting and removing existing carpet, shockpads and timber edges
2. Re-levelling the existing stone sub base
3. Installing a new concrete kerb edging
4. Installing new bowling and pitching area shock pads
5. Installing new TP1 high performance artificial carpet - including one lane with 3 white lines tufted into the carpet
6. Upgrading the existing steelwork to include a lockable access gate
7. Installing a new netting system to both lanes
8. Installing a changeable sight screen that is suitable for using normal cricket balls (red balls) and one day balls (white)

It's proving a busy start to the year for 2012, with an order book full of exciting new projects, including:

Parley Cricket Club - work was completed this week on the new 30m long, 3-lane practice system. For more details and photographs, please click here

Teddington Cricket Club - an exciting new project now underway for the construction of a 33m long, 4-lane enclosed practice facility located in Bushy Park.

Purley Cricket Club - the installation of a 4-lane system comprising two enclosed lanes and two open lanes 33m in length. This system is scheduled for completion this week.

Birkdale School - work is well on the way for the construction of a new MUGA suitable for cricket, football and a number of other sports. The size of a mini-football pitch, the system has an innovative retractable netting system enabling the creation of 10 non-turf cricket practice lanes. More updates on progress to follow shortly, please visit again soon.

Clubs looking to re-vamp their cricket facilities or buy new equipment in 2012 will now have the opportunity to spread payments on their purchases as Official Supporter of NatWest CricketForce, total-play Ltd, has launched a unique new facility on its retail website thecricketgroundshop.co.uk.

The site offers ‘one stop online shop’ for the cricket groundsman, selling everything from total-play’s class-leading range of non-turf pitches through to pitch components, ground covers, screens, stumps and  training aids to grass seeds, fertilizers – and much more. Customers will now have the chance to either take advantage of credit* on items over £500 purchased from the site set or, in the case of multiple and lower value items, set up an account* where they can plan their purchases over a set period of time and call the products off for delivery at an appropriate point.

The first facility of its kind in this field, the finance is being made available via an independent, third-party company and will offer clubs the opportunity to purchase kit and equipment now and pay for it over a period of 2 - 5 years, following an initial down-payment of at least £500.

total-play’s MD, David Bates, says:
“We’re keen to do our bit to support clubs in their quest to improve facilities, and understand that having to pay for more significant purchases in one lump sum can be a real barrier to development. Our credit facility is aimed at helping customers to spread their payments for purchases, softening the blow and helping them to move forward with improvements possibly sooner than they otherwise could.”

Natwest CricketForce clubs will enjoy the added benefit of additional discount on a range of grounds-related products via thecricketgroundshop.co.uk, including non-turf carpets, screens, pitch covers, netting and more. For more information on the credit facility, call 01604 864575.
 

With the cricket season set to start in a matter of months and many clubs and schools looking to upgrade their practice facilities in preparation, it’s been a busy start to the year. 

And, despite the somewhat inclement weather January and February presented, our team has already completed several projects and is underway with a number of fresh schemes at clubs and schools across the country. The majority of the projects to date draw on our position as an ECB Code of Practice non-turf pitch installer, and the renowned quality of our range of non-turf cricket surfaces, including the ECB approved tp365 match and practice system.

Recently completed works include a 3-lane, 27m non-turf cricket facility at Cam CC in Gloucestershire, a 3-lane 30m non-turf facility at Parley CC in Dorset, a bespoke 4 lane non-turf cricket pitch at Cheadle Hulme School in Manchester, which was completed to a particularly tight time scale, and the refurbishment of an existing non-turf facility at Olney CC near Milton Keynes.

The team is already hard at work on new projects across the country, including a new 4 lane non-turf facility at Purley Cricket Club in Surrey. Here, work is underway on the initial excavation and laying of a sub-base for what will eventually feature two open and two closed lanes; offering the club a great level of flexibility.

Over the coming weeks, work is set to start on projects at Teddington CC in London’s Bushey Park, at Minister Lovell CC in Oxfordshire, Calmore CC in Southampton and on the construction of a 9 lane practice facility at the Olympic Village in London.

But it’s not just non-turf cricket facilities that have been keeping us busy – the team has also been working on natural cricket table projects at Clifton College, in conjunction with Agripower contractors, and a bespoke Mixed Use Games Area (MUGA) at Birkdale School in Sheffield.

Sports surface specialist total-play Ltd has been appointed by Calmore Sport’s Cricket Club to upgrade its facilities following the club’s receipt of a £25,000 grant courtesy of Sport England’s Inspired Facilities initiative.

To read full story please click here.

Cam Cricket Club in Gloucester is the latest club to benefit from a new total-play ECB approved NTP.

The 27m long ,3-lane open facility was completed last week and involved interfacing  with an external fencing contractor and a cut and fill operation to create the necessary levels.

The work took place in the worst of this winter's weather conditions and was completed within the agreed timescale and incurred no additional costs (i.e. for remediation etc.)
 

Work has started on the recently awarded project at Parley Cricket Club. 

The project will see the installation of a 30m long, 3-lane non-turf practice facility, funded by club funds and ECB funding. It will involve the transformation of old batting and bowling ends, originally constructed using concrete pads.

Long-time NatWest CricketForce supporter total-play Ltd, the company responsible for the groundbreaking range of Climate Cover ground sheets and germination covers, has once again raised the bar with the development of its new ‘Protection Tunnel’ practice net system.

Drawing on the expertise of its team, which combines the knowledge of ex-cricketers and experienced groundsmen with a scientific approach, the company’s latest offering promises improved player safety. Comprising one seamless piece of netting secured by tension wires and fixed metal hooks, ‘Protection Tunnel’ prevents balls from escaping practice lanes via gaps in fatigued or poorly secured netting.

David Bates, MD of total-play Ltd says:
“Gaps at the edges of netting carry a risk of high speed balls escaping into neighbouring lanes and causing unnecessary injuries. We’ve addressed this with the launch of Protection Tunnel; now individual lanes are cocooned in their own seamless ‘tunnel’ of netting which, firmly secured by a system of tensioning wires fixed metal hooks, means that gaps don’t appear; therefore providing effective protection against errant flying balls.”

In addition to enhanced player safety, Protection Tunnel also offers benefits from a maintenance perspective. Tension wires spread the strain of high winds across the entire net, as opposed to specific pressure points and ties as is common with traditionally fixed netting, thus minimising the risk of the nets failing at isolated points. The tension wire suspension also means that the net can be quickly and easily removed, simply by loosening the wires and detaching from the hooks, making for easy storage during winter months.

Available with an optional maintenance package that will see total-play Ltd’s team of installers make ready the net for the beginning of the season and remove it again for storage at the end of summer, thoroughly checking the net for any repairs that may be required out of season.

To celebrate the launch of this exciting new product, total-play Ltd is offering CricketForce clubs a 10% discount on orders. For more information on Protection Tunnel visit www.total-play.co.uk or, to discuss how you can take advantage of the special CricketForce discount, call 01604 864575. Protection Tunnel is also available exclusively online via www.thecricketgroundshop.co.uk
 

Development has been a key theme at North Lancashire and Cumbria League club Lindal Moor over the last twelve months.  As an England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Focus club with Club Mark accreditation it had been approved for ECB funding - and the goal was to bring the club’s facilities up to date.

With the club’s batting nets in poor condition, replacing these was a priority. After researching the various options on the market the decision was made to commission total-play to install its ECB approved tp365 non-turf outdoor pitch system.

With the project completed in May 2010 the club has since been reaping the benefits, as Club Development Officer and Project Manager, Mike Hughes, explains:
“The new nets are fantastic and have given the whole club a real lift - people can see things are improving all around the ground - which is encouraging them to get on board and help.

“The performance of the new nets has been great for both batting and bowling. We’ve had three white lines laid into the mat, which has been useful for coaching batters and bowlers, and we now have a great nets facility in which we run full coaching and training for all age groups, from U11’s to 1st team. “total-play has been easy to deal with; they have a good, hard working on-site team and I’d recommend anyone looking for a first class product backed by great service to speak to them.”