Professional footballer and UEFA Cup striker Alun Armstrong opened a new state of the art soccer centre based in Shildon, Durham. The transformed carpet warehouse is now divided into six first-class pitches covered entirely in TigerTurf’s Soccer Real 60XO.
Soccer Real 60XQ is one of the latest innovations in the TigerTurf range that has been created specifically for high performance football uses. The product has been tested to meet with the latest IRB, FIFA 1 and FIFA 2 Star standards, and developed in line with the highest safety and performance standards within the industry, making it suitable for all levels of skill and ability.
What makes the product so advanced is the polymer processing of this exclusive XQ technology yarn. This product has a vertical memory built into the blade and as a result the grass will remain upright even under heavy use.
After intensive tests this unique yarn shows a reduced breakdown of fibre, resulting in improved performance and durability, which is less prone to splitting than its predecessor. Resulting in an extremely realistic, two-tone green that looks like natural grass, but performs with improved consistency in all climatic conditions.
TigerTurf worked closely with STM World, the experts in installation and management of synthetic turf, to deliver the project on time for the opening.
Paul Langford, TigerTurf MD comments: “What a fantastic project to be involved with, it’s grass roots initiatives like this which are keeping the importance of sport front of mind in local communities and gives young people a much needed focus.”
The pitches at the Alun Armstrong centre, named after some of the worlds top football stadia, will be a platform to deliver soccer schools for boys and girls aged between 4-15 years. The aim is to provide fun, safe and effective coaching sessions including the tuition of basic skills and techniques.
Middlesbrough FC will be running a development centre for children aged 9-13 and with different leagues to join every night, including an under 16 youth league and a ladies league on Friday nights, the centre will be a hive of sporting activity each and every week.
The centre will be available for pitch hire to local youth and adult football teams to use as a training facility and it is hoped that it will become an invaluable sports facility for the local community.
