Leaders in their field

Does your club need a new pitch or does it simply need a makeover? If so, Tony Patterson Sports Ground Contracts are well worth giving a call to.

How times have changed in the GAA! As recently as the 1980s, many clubs didn’t have their own grounds and those that did had little or no facilities to speak of.

In the past decade or so, GAA grounds have undergone massive redevelopment, not only at national level but at grassroots level also. The Association’s pride and joy - Croke Park - is now regarded as one of the finest sporting arenas in Europe while provincial venues such as Semple Stadium, Fitzgerald Stadium, O’Moore Park, Hyde Park, Clones and Casement Park are worthy of the biggest occasions.

Many club grounds have also received major facelifts, bringing them up to 21st century standards. Some of the more progressive clubs boast of facilities such as clubhouses, gymnasiums and floodlighting. Two decades ago, a club with dressingrooms was seen to be progressive!

As clubs strive to improve their facilities, however, some have been guilty of neglecting what is the centrepiece of every club - the playing pitch. Similar to everything else, pitches can only take so much punishment and need to be maintained on a regular basis. That’s where Tony Patterson Sports Ground Contracts come in.

Based in Ballinahinch, Co. Down, Tony Patterson Sports Ground Contracts are specialists in laying new pitches and maintaining them. The company has nearly 20 years experience in pitch laying and maintenance and its GAA clientele is growing all the time.

“We have carried out work for a big number of GAA clubs in the past few years,” explains Liam Haslem, who is a quantity surveyor with the company.

“It’s amazing how much GAA facilities have improved and a better standard of playing pitches are part of those improvements. A lot of GAA clubs want the best pitches possible and we aim to please in that regard,” he adds.

There are two main types of pitches - soil-based and sand-based. Traditionally, the soil-based type was the more popular but most clubs now opt for the sand-based, or sand carpet, as it is more commonly known.

“More often than not, a club will go for the sand carpet nowadays,” Haslem says.
“It’s definitely the best suited type of pitch to this country. We have rainfall all year round and with the sand carpet, you get better drainage.”

As most clubs have laid new pitches by now, Tony Patterson Sports Ground Contracts are concentrating more and more on pitch maintenance. Many clubs are guilty of allowing their pitches to deteriorate and don’t have the expertise or equipment to repair them.

“Pitch maintenance would be the biggest part of our business at the moment, simply because there are less and less pitches to be laid. Pitches can cut up very badly and when they aren’t maintained there and then, the playing surface can become very uneven.

“We have the expertise to repair any damage caused to a pitch. For example, goalmouth areas tend to plough up quite badly but we can apply direct seeding and the grass thickens up in no time.
“We also help clubs with drainage problems they might have and give whatever advice we can on the subject.”

Liam notes that the whole business of pitch laying and maintenance has become very competitive but points out that Tony Patterson Sports Ground Contracts are leaders in their field. “With years of experience behind us, we guarantee excellent workmanship at a reasonable price,” he says.

Among the GAA clubs the company has recently carried out work for are Carryduff, Co. Down, Gort na Mona in Belfast, Russell Gaelic Union in Downpatrick and over the past number of years have undertaken the pitch renovations at Casement Park. The company has build up a good relationship with GAA clubs in the Ballinahinch area and one of its staff members, Patrick Farrell - who is employed as an engineer - played for Rostrevor for many years as well as representing Down at minor and u21 levels.

Tony Patterson Contracts have also carried out extensive work for other sports such as soccer, rugby and hockey. The company laid its first synthetic pitch three years ago and this all-weather surface has been in big demand since then. Some of the bigger contracts undertaken have been the Twinbrook Playing Fields in Belfast and the Lisburn Borough Council Grounds which incorporates two soccer pitches, one GAA pitch and a synthetic pitch. Recently the company worked at St.Genives Grammer School where one GAA, two camogie and a soccer pitch were installed alongside a running track.

Tony Patterson Sports Ground Contracts was founded by Tony Patterson in 1975. Tony’s father Tom was a farm contractor and specialised in field drainage. Starting out with just one digger, Tony has seen the company grow and grow to the stage now where it employs 28.

So, if your pitch needs improving, look no further that Tony Patterson Sports Ground Contracts.
For further information on Tony Patterson Sports Ground Contracts, visit the company website at www.tonypattersoncontracts.com