There is growing pressure from English Football League Clubs to allow the installation of artificial turf. As the GreenFields artificial turf pitch at Scottish based Stenhousemuir receives its 6th annual FIFA 2 Star certification, clubs in the English Football League are starting to realise the long term, sustainable benefits an artificial turf pitch could bring to their clubs. In the 1980’s clubs like Queens Park Rangers, Luton Town and Oldham Athletic installed the first generation pitches. However their use was stopped in professional league games. Skip forward 20 years and the restriction in the professional league games is still in place yet turf technology has moved on two generations in leaps and bounds. Modern artificial turf pitches are completely different products, tried, tested and approved by football’s world governing body, FIFA.

Sandar Sport Club in the city of Sandefjord was founded 80 years ago.  Like many sports clubs in Norway, it was founded by volunteers in the local community. Today, the club has over 1600 members and is an important pillar in the community of Vesterøya in Sandefjord.

Physical activity has always been an integral part of Norwegian society and more than 50% of the population is a member of at least one sports club.  Most of them rely on voluntary work and goodwill to be able to develop necessary facilities for sports.  Sandar Sports Club is a typical example; for years they have saved up money through bake sales and lotteries, sponsorship and voluntary work.  Last year they decided to embark on the largest development project in the club’s history: two brand new artificial turf fields in 2011, followed by an indoor hall in 2012 and two 7-a-side artificial turf football fields in 2013.

GreenFields has completed a brand new rugby pitch at Scotstoun Stadium, a “state-of-the-art” complex in Scotland which will feature in the 2014 Commonwealth Games. GreenFields artificial turf system Slide Pro has achieved certification of the International Rugby Board (IRB) and will be used by the Glasgow Warriors.

GreenFields continues its global expansion and has successfully entered the Peruvian market by installing a new artificial turf pitch in Chiclayo. Working with its local partner Menbelsports International, GreenFields has completed its first artificial turf installation in Peru at the Jockey Club Chiclayo located in the Northwest costal region.

Chiclayo is the fourth largest city in Peru and has a population in the metropolitan area of over 900,000. The Jockey Club Chiclayo was established 60 years ago as a private sports club, providing excellent facilities for local people. The club is spread over 29 acres and has a large range of facilities including a golf course, eleven clay tennis courts, three football fields,  a artificial turf football field, eight fronton courts, volleyball courts, a sand volleyball court and swimming pool.

GreenFields has been awarded the prestigious Preferred Turf Producer status by the International Rugby Board (IRB) in recognition of their proven quality and global track record in manufacturing, installing and maintaining artificial turf. The IRB has launched the One Turf programme, a ground breaking initiative to regulate and standardise the development performance and maintenance of artificial turf worldwide. With its global reach and exacting quality standards, GreenFields was the natural choice as one of the key Preferred Turf Producers.

Genemuiden, Netherlands– TenCate, market leader in the field of synthetic turf fibres and carpet backing for sports pitches and landscaping, will increase its share in GreenFields, a leading company in the synthetic turf industry. The objective of this stake-building move is a long-term strategic partnership that allows TenCate and GreenFields to leverage products and enhance market shares worldwide. According to TenCate a “strong and friendly relationship with GreenFields is critical for Ten Cate’s strategical vision within the synthetic turf industry.”

The DESZ football club began playing on the new artificial turf last Saturday. DESZ Chairman Jaap Muis took a shot at the goal that was defended by Diederik Boer, goal keeper for FC Zwolle. The penalty was easily stopped, but that did not matter. With two new artificial turf fields, DESZ is ready for whatever the future brings. “I’m extremely pleased,” says Jaap Muis.

DUBLIN – GreenFields along with its strategic construction partner for Ireland have the kudos of building Ireland’s first ever Full Size Eco Gaelic Hurling/Football Artificial turf pitch to meet the GAA’s new code of compliance for artificial turf pitches. Dublin City Council first tendered Alfie Byrne Park in 2008 the tender attracted competition from not only Ireland but from many overseas contractors.

Arsène Wenger, President, Paris 2011 Homeless World Cup said: “The Paris 2011 Homeless World Cup will bring together different national teams made up of homeless players, orgainsed by charities who help the homeless all year round. “What is important for a guy who is homeless is to give him a target again in life, for him to know that when he gets up he has training. He takes a shower, has lunch and knows that he has training again the next morning.”

Lyngby-Taarbæk Kommune is a municipality near Copenhagen where two clubs are active: Virum and 1st division team Lyngby Boldklub. At Lyngby Boldklub Danish internationals Klaus Berggreen, Henrik Larsen, Miklos Molnar and Bent Christensen, current internationals Dennis Rommedahl and Niclas Jensen, and Swedish international Marcus Allbäck used to play. The new synthetic turf pitch was constructed with the use of GreenFields’ V-shape system. Unlike conventional flat shaped fibres, the v-shaped fibre allows the ball to interact with the fibre as it would with a natural grass surface.