Wimbledon Qualifying and Community Sports Centre Multi-Court Construction

Following the conclusion of the 2022 Wimbledon championships, Fineturf were appointed to construct a brand-new 10-court complex at the Wimbledon Qualifying and Community Sports Centre, Roehampton. Formally the Bank of England Sports Centre, the eight-week project saw the installation of 8 pre-qualifying grass courts, 1 warm-up court and a new centrepiece show court.

Work commenced in early August 2022. The first stage was to remove the existing cricket square and outfield which resided on the site. This involved Koro’ing and removing the turf surface, followed by groundworks to remove the drains and other contaminants to create a ‘brown field’ site and provide a suitable foundation for the new build.

Following this, the new fully integrated irrigation system was installed, including tank, pump controller and underground pipework.

All 10 courts were designed to Wimbledon court specification – which Fineturf were able to accommodate with knowledge and confidence, having worked closely alongside AELTC for more than 15 years.

Fineturf then commenced works to develop the new Show Court which would host the culmination of the Qualifying Event. The Show Court was installed complete with a ring beam – providing court definition, enhanced drainage and the necessary fixings for securing ground sheets or rain covers.

The Show Court construction consisted of 100mm of 10-20mm gravel, with a further 50mm of 6-10mm gravel before being topped with 275mm of approved Wimbledon tennis approved loam. This was applied in 40mm increments, laser graded and keyed in to prevent compaction and pan layers, and assist integration of one layer with the next for optimal drainage and root establishment.

Work on the 8 pre-qualifying courts and additional warm-up court involved utilising the indigenous Roehampton soil, which was laser graded before 50mm of Wimbledon Tennis Approved Loam was introduced and ameliorated into the profile. This 50/50 blend of soil to loam was specified to avoid root break. A further 100mm of loam was applied in 3 increments as above, with grading and keying-in fundamental to achieving the desired rootzone.

All courts were then sown with MM50 100% perennial ryegrass blend and applied with a grow-in nutritional programme consisting of ICL Sierrablen Pearl, Greentec 6-5-18+MgO+4Fe and Multigreen 28-3-15.

While the grow-in was taking place, Fineturf continued work which included the installation of catch drains and the re-grade of an existing sports pitch on the same site. They also carried out all civils work to deliver services (power and water) to where it was required, alongside constructing a base for the irrigation tank and new grounds facilities shed.

The courts were then handed back to the stewardship of the in-house grounds team for the completion of the grow-in at the end of September 2022.

Fineturf returned in February 2023 to install 10 sets of post sockets once any clay movement had settled, and later returned to install the infrastructure for Hawkeye technology on all courts.

The new complex was then ready to host the Qualifying Event in Summer 2023. The Wimbledon Qualifying and Community Sports Centre has since gone on to work in proud collaboration with local schools and community groups to facilitate sporting activities, training sessions and matches from September to May.

Thanks to the success of the project, Fineturf have since made a number of return visits to the site, conducting further renovations to a number of the outside courts.