Manchester United - Carrington Training Centre Renovation of Pitches A, B and C

Work was undertaken in early May 2023 to reconstruct and renovate the rootzone composition of three pitches at Manchester United’s Carrington Training Centre. The latest visit in a longstanding partnership between Fineturf and the club saw the introduction of new 70/30 rootzone and Profile® Porous Ceramic soil amendment to deliver improved drainage and enhanced performance across training pitches A, B and C.

The first stage of the project was to remove the existing sprinkler heads. Once capped off, the existing surface was koro’ed off to remove vegetation, thatch and slime. In total, 100mm of the existing rootzone was extracted and removed cleanly from site to be replaced with a fresh, new 70/30 composition.

The stripped surfaces were aerated, using both a linear aerator and traditional verti-drain to increase porosity and alleviate any compaction in the lower rootzone levels. Prior to adding the new rootzone material, each pitch was keyed in to prevent issues with pan layers and encourage vigorous root development.

With the preparatory groundworks complete, the 70/30 rootzone mix was applied.

This was followed by an application of 4 tonnes of Profile® porous soil amendment per pitch. The particles of Profile® Porous Ceramic hold moisture and nutrients, to provide a balance of air and water pore space in easily compacted native soils. Its application during the construction and maintenance of sports surfaces can promote better drainage and increase oxygen levels in the rootzone for the encouragement of healthier turf.

Once the surface was graded, the pitches were then applied with an 11-11-5 and 14-6-8 fertiliser programme.

Final preparations could then take place. This included the replacement of the sprinkler heads with brand new Hunter heads, and overseeding of the three pitches with Johnsons J Premier Pitch.

Fineturf were delighted to deliver this important project on time, on budget and on specification to host top flight football and thank the Manchester United grounds team for their ongoing support and trust.