New SiS pitches have been installed on campus

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ reveals new world-class sports pitches on campus

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ has unveiled its new state-of-the-art sport pitches, installed by world-leading sports surface provider and pitch partner, SIS Pitches.

Installed in summer 2019, the elite level water-based hockey surface is the first of its kind in the UK and has been designed specifically to encourage speed of play. The full-size pitch harnesses the latest innovations and was manufactured at the company’s state-of-the-art £1.8m headquarters in Cumbria.

The SISTurf Xcel Ultra surface is the product of SIS Pitches’ continuous pursuit of high-quality and innovative surfaces. The combination of a high-grade, polyethylene polymer, 10-ended texturised yarn, and optimised turf construction provides a truly elite-level system, with exceptional ball speed and uniformity, as well as outstanding durability.

SIS Pitches has also recently installed SISGrass hybrid technology into the newly built pitch at the º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Stadium. The pitch consists of 95 per cent natural grass supported with 5 per cent synthetic fibres and is the same style of pitch as used at the 2018 World Cup.

The football pitch was the first in the UK to be installed using a new-to-market, 100% electric machine from SISGrass. This innovation can stitch a full-size football pitch in just seven days, a huge step forward in reducing the environmental footprint of each pitch installation.

SIS Pitches has been named as the official partner for all º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ’s Stadium pitches. As part of this remit, it will also sponsor the Women’s Hockey first-team in a multi-year deal, following last season’s promotion to the Investec Women’s Hockey League Premier Division.

Brett Holland, Women’s Hockey Performance Head Coach, said:

“We are thrilled with the installation of a new elite level playing surface here at º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ. The pitch is designed to the highest possible standard, ensuring matches are fast-paced and exciting to both play in and for spectators to watch.  

“The squad achieved fantastic things last season which culminated in promotion to the Premier Division and winning British Universities College Sport (BUCS) gold. It’s brilliant news for everyone involved that we have the surface to continue with this momentum for the new campaign.”

Richard Allen, Director of Football, º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ, added:

“The new pitch will take our football offer to the next level and help showcase the excellent facilities we already have on offer. The durability of the surface will give more opportunities for our students to experience playing at the stadium, which will undoubtedly help their personal development as footballers.”

Joe Shaw, Sales Manager at SIS Pitches, added:

“º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is the leading sports University in the UK and one of the leading institutions worldwide in relation to research, technology, and performance in sport.

“This partnership represents a unique opportunity for us to work together with º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ’s elite staff and athletes to maximise our product quality, delivery, service and to conduct key research into athlete performance and interaction with natural, hybrid and synthetic surfaces in a variety of sports.”

SIS Pitches made headlines in 2018 when SISGrass hybrid pitches were used at six of the stadiums for the World Cup in Russia. Following this, the company has provided pitches for all major sporting tournaments across the globe, including the 2019 Rugby World Cup, 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, and the 2018 UEFA Champions League.

The company has also recently installed the playing surfaces at FC Barcelona’s Camp Nou, alongside the La Liga side’s first-team training pitch.

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Hockey’s first game to be held on the new surface will be in the Investec Women’s Hockey League’s Premier Division on Saturday, September 14th against reigning champions, Surbiton.

The first game on the new º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Stadium pitch will also take place during September 2019.

Notes for editors

Press release reference number: 19/137

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º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2019 QS World University Rankings, University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2019 and top in the country for its student experience in the 2018 THE Student Experience Survey.

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is in the top 10 of every national league table, being ranked 4th in the Guardian University League Table 2020, 5th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019 and 8th in The UK Complete University Guide 2020.

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’ and is in the top 10 in England for research intensity. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

The º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities. It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking.

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ staff, students and alumni make a real difference. They challenge convention, think creatively and find solutions to some of the biggest challenges facing society today and in the future.

Meet the #LboroGameChangers at lboro.ac.uk/lborogamechangers

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