OBI Sports

OBI’s Harry Bradley has expanded services into Eastern Europe, delivering Agronomy and OBI Self Test for Ferencvárosi Torna Club and overseeing the expansion of services to their training ground. This visit has also included overseeing the mini renovation of the club’s stadium pitch at the Groupma Arena during their winter break, which is a vital element of the maintenance plan for a high-quality surface for the second half of the season. 

Recently, we successfully completed a project with Wycombe Wanderers, who installed a SIS Pitches SISGrass pitch with the primary aim of delivering elite standards all year round. With the MJ Abbott Ltd constructed pitch in place, the team is excelling at the top of League One, and the management team and players are delighted with the new training surface. Training ground pitches' durability and playing quality are especially tested through the busy Christmas and New Year period, and challenging weather can often highlight areas that need improving, making it a good time to assess what needs to be done in preparation for the following year. Forward-thinking in this way can prevent disruption to training schedules at a crucial time in the season and, more importantly, provide high-quality surfaces that offer a consistent performance.

White Horse Contractors were commissioned by Crystal Palace Football Club to construct a state-of-the-art stitched Hybrid pitch in the summer. Here is a video of the construction process at their Copers Cope training facility designed by OBI Sports and Charles Henderson. We are experts in the design, construction, and renovation of training facilities.   Please visit our website for more information at https://lnkd.in/gYJKGHBE or call our experts on 01865 736272.   #Football #CPFC #Sportscontractor #Constructedwithintegrity

In May 2024, Bromley Football Club won the National League Play-Off Final on penalties, securing promotion to the Football League for the first time in their 132-year history. With only 100 days between winning the final and their first-ever home game in the Football League, Bromley FC's EFL requirement to convert their artificial pitch to natural turf was a project that needed efficient and experienced management to meet the tight deadlines. The club appointed OBI Sports to fully tender and procure the project within two weeks, with a one-and-a-half-week construction timeline for Chappelow Sports Turf, followed by Jordans Sports Ground Solutions implementing the maintenance. Because the club had been using an artificial pitch for the past seven years, they needed a surface that could withstand the use of their men's and women's teams as well as London City Linonesses. The solution to this was to use a HERO Hybrid carpet, which was installed County Turf. This video, which features interviews with Bromley COO Jeff Hutton, Head of Stadium Operations and Facilities Ben Gregory and Chappelows Director Ben Chappelow, takes an in-depth look at the project.

It was great to have Charles Henderson representing OBI Sports at the SGL for the love of grass Chelsea Football Club Showcase. Charles presented an oversight of the processes and changes implemented by Paul Burgess over an 18-month period, including budget reallocation, interim pitch projects, and vision 2030 for Cobham Training Ground.

Now is the time of year when pitches are really put to the test, with packed playing and training schedules.   Pre-empting challenges and keeping grounds departments in control of the pitch performance is an important aspect of the OBI Self Test service and ensures consistent, high-quality surfaces like those at Birmingham City FC   Using Self Test, Training Ground Head Groundsman dale ketteridge and Stadium Head Groundsman Martin Kelly can dial in the pitches and effectively manage the communication with football departments.

Project Recap - Hull City FC - MKM Stadium Reconstruction   The Challenge   With the MKM Stadium pitch at the end of its useable life, the Club employed MJ Abbott Ltd to fully reconstruct the surface, including irrigation and undersoil heating.    Unforeseen underlying drainage issues and a tight deadline of two days between the last roll of County Turf Hero Turf and the first rugby league game provided plenty of logistical challenges, which the construction team expertly dealt with.   The Outcome   In this video, Hull City FC's Head Groundsman, Aaron Tong and MJ Abbott's Contracts Director, Nathan George, walk us through the project journey to produce a dual-purpose surface that can now take 50 to 60 games a season while maintaining high-quality playability.

At the request of UEFA's Women’s Football department, OBI Sports conducted an initial assessment of pitches proposed for the UEFA U19 Women’s Championship Poland 2025, set to take place in June.   The team visited four stadium pitches—including one under reconstruction—in Rzeszów, Mielec, Tarnobrzeg, and Stalowa Wola, as well as ten training sites within the Rzeszów area.    To assess the pitches, OBI Sports implemented Self Test, a practical method of gathering performance and pitch health information. This information, along with an assessment of the soil conditions and general environment, was used to provide UEFA with a detailed risk register and recommendations for pitch improvements, ensuring that each site will meet the highest quality standards for the Championship. Dale Frith

At the request of UEFA's Women’s Football department, OBI Sports conducted an initial assessment of pitches proposed for the UEFA U19 Women’s Championship Poland 2025, set to take place in June.   The team visited four stadium pitches—including one under reconstruction—in Rzeszów, Mielec, Tarnobrzeg, and Stalowa Wola, as well as ten training sites within the Rzeszów area.    To assess the pitches, OBI Sports implemented Self Test, a practical method of gathering performance and pitch health information. This information, along with an assessment of the soil conditions and general environment, was used to provide UEFA with a detailed risk register and recommendations for pitch improvements, ensuring that each site will meet the highest quality standards for the Championship. Dale Frith

Project Recap - Hull City FC - MKM Stadium Reconstruction   The Challenge   With the MKM Stadium pitch at the end of its useable life, the Club employed MJ Abbott Ltd to fully reconstruct the surface, including irrigation and undersoil heating.    Unforeseen underlying drainage issues and a tight deadline of two days between the last roll of County Turf Hero Turf and the first rugby league game provided plenty of logistical challenges, which the construction team expertly dealt with.   The Outcome   In this video, Hull City FC's Head Groundsman, Aaron Tong and MJ Abbott's Contracts Director, Nathan George, walk us through the project journey to produce a dual-purpose surface that can now take 50 to 60 games a season while maintaining high-quality playability.