Turf stars are new pitch partners

The deal, initially for the 2017-18 football season, was announced at a meeting of the league’s 68 clubs on Sunday, with an introductory presentation from GreenFields.

GreenFields will provide EVO-STIK NPL clubs with surface solutions to meet the growing demand for 3G and hybrid turf pitches, as well as advice on maintaining grass surfaces. As a result, the league hopes to reduce the number of fixture postponements, especially during the winter months.

NPL club Hyde United have already been working with Greenfields for a year having laid a 3G woven pitch and officials at the EVO-STIK NPL First Division North club are delighted with their choice of surface.

General manager Pete Ainger said: “The feedback has been excellent. Players and officials alike have commented that it is amongst the best surfaces they have experienced. The technology is massively different from other 3Gs, it performs like a grass pitch with increased durability. The woven technology enables the grass to stay upright and it’s an obvious difference to standard 3G pitches.”

EVO-STIK NPL chairman Mark Harris told clubs at the meeting he was delighted to have GreenFields on-board in a statement announcing the new commercial partnership.

He said: “We’ve been looking for a pitch partner for some time to meet the information needs and growing demand from clubs looking to artificial turf pitches to generate additional revenues as well as providing a surface to play good football on. GreenFields’ philosophy matches our own so this agreement makes total sense for the league.”

Over the coming season the EVO-STIK NPL will be working with GreenFields to provide clubs with exclusive pitch installation and maintenance information and advice with a presence from the company at league events including the launch of a new ‘Pitch of the Year Award’, set to be selected and presented by GreenFields at next June's annual awards in Blackpool.

GreenFields director Paul Milton said: “We are excited by this new partnership and look forward to supporting and advising member clubs on their current and potential sports pitches. With over a decade’s experience, we have the expertise in house to be able to provide clubs with the best possible solution to meet their requirements.”

For more information on GreenFields visit www.greenfieldsturf.co.uk. The company can also be found on social media channels including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

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