Tony Patterson Sportsgrounds

SECONDARY DRAINAGE...

If a playing surface has not received proper maintenance over a period of time or if it has received heavy usage during inappropriate conditions, the surface characteristics can quickly deteriorate. Tony Patterson Sportsgrounds has over £1,000,000 worth of specialist machinery which can be used to renovate existing surfaces to bring them up to the desirable standard. All our specialist equipment is low ground bearing pressure to prevent any damage to the existing surfaces.


Secondary drainage

(for pitches which have received primary drainage but are not up to modern specifications)

Gravel Branding.
This process installs a gravel drain filled to the surface at 400mm centres (intervals) providing an intensive surface drainage system, which moves excess water in minutes to the network of primary drains below.
This process leaves the surface immediately playable after installation, however it is preferred to allow the gravel bands to be grown over. Normally this takes 4-6 weeks during the growing season. This method is one of the most cost effective solutions to problematic areas.

Construction Gravel banding at Twinbrook, Belfast

Sand Grooving.
This process places a continuous groove of sand 25mm wide throughout the playing surface at 200mm centres (intervals). Selected sand is packed into the grooves by specialist equipment.
The sand grooves form continuous vertical channels which are very effective in reconnecting the surface with the underlying secondary drainage system such as sand slits or gravel banding which may have become capped. This increases the speed of the water removal from the surface and develops a better sward. The surface is playable immediately after our specialist machines leave.

Construction Sand Grooving at YMCA, Belfast

Sand Slitting.
This uses a tractor mounted machine to cut a trench through an established surface at any required centres. This trench is then backfilled with a clean drainage stone, and then topped to the surface with selected sand. The trench provides a connection from the surface to the primary drainage layer. This method cause's minimal damage to any established surface as the system is tractor mounted.



Governing Bodies