THE Arbour Park Community Sports Facility (CSF) is set to join a small but growing number of elite 3G football turf pitches across the country.

The scheme for the Arbour Park CSF 3G pitch has been designed to provide an exceptionally robust community facility that will meet the demands of the various stakeholders who want to use it and enjoy the benefits of a top quality football surface.

The pitch design incorporates a stabilised sub base, a tarmacadam layer, a shock absorbing layer, a stabilising layer of sand, a rubber performance infill and a 50mm artificial football turf surface.

The 3G turf, above, has been manufactured by a FIFA preferred producer, Fieldturf Inc., and is being installed by 3G pitch construction specialists S&C Slatter Limited.

These two market leaders are responsible for installing many top quality 3G pitches including St George’s Park, the home of the Football Association, and National League club, Sutton United.

They are currently installing 3G pitches at four other National League clubs including Maidstone United.

The National League is the top level of non-league football in England, and the highest level of league football that permits the use of 3G pitches.

The Arbour Park CSF pitch will therefore be on a par with other stadia at the top level of non-league football in England.

Of the 167 FIFA recommended pitches in England, only 22 have achieved the highest standard, the FIFA Quality Pro certificate.

To be awarded a FIFA test certificate, a two-stage testing process takes place.

Samples of the 3G football turf surface, the stabilising sand and rubber performance infills and the shock absorbing layer to be used on the pitch will already have undergone a rigorous testing process and been approved by an independent FIFA accredited test institute laboratory.

When the 3G installation had been completed, the second phase of testing takes place. An independent FIFA accredited test institute will carry out a stringent series of durability, resistance, safety and performances tests on the pitch.

The FIFA test institute’s field report will then be submitted to FIFA and, providing all of the tests have been passed, the pitch will be awarded a FIFA certificate and entered onto the FA 3G Football Turf Register.

The Arbour Park CSF 3G pitch will be the only FIFA and FA accredited stadium in the Berks & Bucks FA region.