This new state-of-the-art academy offers various training and playing facilities for young and talented football players which includes 4 natural turf pitches, a mini-pitch, 2 synthetic turf pitches, and training ramps. Karl Kaplan, head of the Burgenland Football Association (BFV), said: “There is not another academy of that standard anywhere in Austria.”

With the completion of the football academy at Mattersburg a model facility has been realized as an example from both an economical and an environmental perspective, where focus was placed on the use of alternative energy. The heat supply is provided through biomass heating where hot water is primarily treated through solar panels installed on the flat roof, and water for the irrigation system is supplied through a small reservoir which is fed constantly by a newly constructed well utilising natural groundwater.

The venue offers the very best training facilities for young talented footballers and to date 71 youngsters have already enrolled on the training program. To make them feel at home a dormitory with spacious rooms, a cafeteria, a gym and various free-time activities are all available. They undergo intense training from 8 football coaches and sports scientists and will attend the town’s commercial high school “Handelsakademie “or HAK. One day it is hoped that these academy students reach the potential to join Bundesliga club SV Mattersburg (SVM). SVM president Martin Pucher said: “We always strive to provide young players with the chance to make it in the Bundesliga. Now, with the academy, we have the perfect opportunity.”

Both of the synthetic turf pitches were 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. V-shape fibre is constructed very much like a natural blade of grass in that it has a V-shape spine along its length; this provides a structural memory and assists the fibre in remaining vertical. The football then has the ability to sit on top of the fibre providing not only a natural look but allows the player, when kicking the ball to gain enough leverage underneath and provide truly natural playability characteristics.

Franz Redl, managing director of STRABAG’s sport department, said: “Synthetic turf offers a lot of advantages for a country like Austria. Training sessions as well as games can take place the whole year through, no matter what the weather conditions are. One of the synthetic turf pitches was constructed with an underground heating system to assist with continuity of play even in the harshest of winters. We are sure this new state-of-the-art football academy will increase the success and reputation of Mattesburg as a football club”.