Case Studies

Sport & Play has supplied and installed new football nets and goal posts at the Withdean Stadium, formerly home to league championship team Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club (also known as The Seagulls) between 1999 and 2011.

The club's former stadium, the Goldstone Ground was sold for redevelopment in 1997. The Seagulls played their home matches for two seasons at Gillingham’s Priestfield Stadium, over 70 miles (110 km) from Brighton, before moving to Withdean Stadium which became their temporary home whilst a new stadium was built in nearby Falmer. The club played their last game at Withdean on Saturday April 30, 2011 against Huddersfield Town, where Brighton lost 3-2, although the result did not actually matter because Brighton and Hove Albion were already League One champions. After the match, The Seagulls players were presented with the League One trophy.

Following The Seagulls’ departure, Withdean Stadium, was refurbished with new equipment, including goal posts and nets, and is now part of the Withdean Sports Complex for local residents, owned by Brighton & Hove City Council and managed by Freedom Leisure. In addition to the 8850 capacity football stadium, the sports complex offers a gym, athletics stadium, courts for tennis, a squash and other sports and exercise studios.

Sport & Play acts as a one-stop shop for the supply, installation, servicing, maintenance and repair of all indoor and outdoor sports and leisure equipment. The company has wide ranging expertise in the installation of high quality outdoor equipment, including posts, nettings and goals, for both team sports and athletics, including match-play, competition and training equipment.

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The Customer is King

Occupying a prominent position on the seafront at Hove, just west of Brighton, the King Alfred Leisure Centre serves a large catchment area.  However, the centre is operating under difficult conditions because the whole area is currently the subject of a controversial redevelopment plan. 

Disenchanted with her previous supplier, Kerry Taylor, Centre Manager at the Council run King Alfred Centre brought in Sport & Play to organise the site’s equipment servicing.

“The service from Sport & Play has been really good,” said Kerry.  “Having worked in leisure centres themselves, the team’s understanding of how it works on a daily basis, coupled with their ability to take the pressure off by doing all the running around, has removed a major headache for me.”

As the leisure centre, which is the largest in the area, is due to be redeveloped in the near future, funds for additional gym equipment were even more limited than usual.  Therefore, Sport & Play stepped in to supply a range of reconditioned equipment at a fraction of the cost of purchasing new.

“Sport & Play’s prices are very competitive too,” said Kerry.  “As well as servicing all the sports hall equipment, gym kit and trampolines, we’ve now asked them back to supply soft play matting.”

Kerry believes that communication is key to an effective partnership and continued:  “The team at Sport & Play are very good at taking on board and dealing with any comments I have about the service engineers.  There’s always going to be a minor problem or two along the way, but Sport & Play are great at communicating and keep me informed at every step.”

PIPA Pledge

Inflatable's often form an integral part of the play equipment at many leisure and children’s play areas, especially for use at parties and other events. Therefore, to avoid upset children and their parents, they need to be tagged and maintained in a safe condition.

Sport & Play is fully certified to conduct PIPA (Performance Inflatable Play Accreditation) tagging on inflatable play structures in the UK.  To support this service, Sport & Play engineers offer an on-site testing and service provision to ensure equipment is checked on a yearly basis for compliance with best practice guidance.

The Sport & Play service engineers can carry out most minor inflatable repairs on site.  However, an instant on site quote can be provided for any serious fault that may require factory-based repairs.

Mark Cullingford, Managing Director of Sport & Play advises:  “This allows the site manager to make a decision there and then rather than hauling the equipment to the factory only to find out the repair cost is outside their budget.  We recognise the importance of keeping equipment in tip top condition to ensure that there is no costly ‘down time’ while repairs are carried out.”

“With this in mind Sport & Play offers replacement inflatable's at a fixed cost while any major repairs are carried out.  We realise how critical this down time is to a centre.  If you have a children’s birthday party to cater for you can’t just cancel.  We’ve gone to great lengths to ensure that, whatever the problem, our sites can keep their centre operational at all times.”

Fred Furner, General Manager of Wave Leisure’s Lewes Leisure Centre, was one of the first to experience Sport & Play’s enthusiastic response.  Sport & Play were called to inspect a damaged pool inflatable.  The repairs couldn’t be carried out at the centre, so the inflatable was taken off site that afternoon, repaired in the factory and returned the very next day.

Fred Furner said:  “I was very surprised at the promptness of the repair.  We have parties most weekends, so can’t be without the inflatable's.  Sport & Play picked up the pool inflatable at 2pm on Monday afternoon and we had it back, fully repaired, by 1pm the following day.

 “We were so impressed with the response time and overall service that we have asked Sport & Play to look after all our wet and dry inflatable's across four sites in the district, testing on an annual basis to ensure they are fit for service.”

Wave Leisure

With the wide variety of resources on offer at a modern leisure centre it can sometimes be necessary to engage several contractors to ensure that different pieces of equipment are adequately serviced and maintained. However, by engaging Sport and Play to fulfil a group-wide service contract, Wave Leisure of East Sussex were able to consolidate a significant proportion of their inspection, servicing and refurbishment needs with just one supplier.

Wave Leisure is a charitable, not-for-profit trust that operates a number of leisure centres and public pools in the coastal area of East Sussex, including sites at Lewes, Peacehaven and Seaford. Facilities on offer across the different venues include gymnasiums, sports halls, squash courts, outdoor tracks/pitches, swimming pools and soft play areas at all three major centres.

In a modern leisure centre environment it is essential that all facilities are conscientiously maintained to avoid downtime and ensure continual compliance with health and safety regulations. Having equipment that cannot be utilised can be detrimental to a centre not only in terms of the inconvenience for staff and customers, but in also in terms of lost revenues. Their service contract with Sport and Play means that Wave Leisure can be sure of a quick response to any maintenance or repair requirements, ensuring that any disruptions are kept to a minimum.

Work carried out by Sport and Play to date includes the refurbishment of sports hall and squash court floors, servicing of trampolines and other sports hall equipment, maintenance to inflatable equipment performed by PIPA registered inspectors and servicing of all soft play areas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fred Furner, Centre Manager at Wave's Downs Leisure Centre, said: "Having just one servicing and maintenance contract to cover a large proportion of our centre equipment has proved to be a simple and cost-effective solution. Sport and Play deliver a rapid response to our maintenance needs via a 24 hour contact facility and they are also able to provide auditing and inspection services, giving us peace of mind with regard to the condition of our facilities and the safety of our clients. With their additional capacity to source and supply any new parts or materials that are required they have become the one-stop-shop for our inspection, servicing and maintenance requirements."

Sport and Play provide a comprehensive range of inspection, installation, maintenance and repair services for all kinds of leisure facilities. Categories covered include sports hall equipment, indoor and outdoor sports floors and surfaces, squash courts, swimming pools, gym equipment, wet and dry inflatable's and children's play areas. In addition their SportNet internet-based record system also ensures that service and maintenance records are always up to date and available should the details be required.

Further information on Wave Leisure can be found at their main website www.waveleisure.co.uk or by contacting individual centres. Details of Sport and Play's wide range of services can be found at www.sportplay.co.uk Alternatively, please contact them by phone on 0845 873 7712 or by email to info@sportplay.co.uk.

Abbey Sports Centre

The Abbey Sports Centre is a thriving leisure centre located in Berinsfield, Oxfordshire. When the centre's aging sports hall flooring was in need of replacement it was essential that the chosen supplier was able to work to exacting schedules, thereby causing minimum disruption to the many users who enjoy the activities held in the hall. Sport and Play were selected not only for the speed with which they were able to complete the project, but also for their ability replace the traditional flooring with a modern contemporary synthetic surface.

The Abbey Sports Centre is one of several leisure centres in Oxford and Buckinghamshire that are operated by Nexus Community. It offers users a wide variety of facilities including a gymnasium, an indoor swimming pool and an all-weather football pitch. The sports hall is utilised for racquet sports, ball games, and gymnastics. It is also the location for a large number of the classes on offer at the centre, from high-impact workouts through to Tai-Chi, and including movement and mobility courses that are suitable for the over 50s or those suffering from various medical conditions.

When assessing the scope of the project and the requirements of the leisure centre, Mark Cullingford, the MD of Sport and Play, quickly recognised that a versatile and highly resilient surface was needed. He therefore recommended the installation of a synthetic Pulastic floor as a multi-functional and cost effective solution.

Pulastic floors are available in a variety of formats, all of which provide significant advantages over conventional wooden flooring. They combine comfort and safety for users with a high level of durability, and will accept chair legs and shoe heels without risk of damage. Their synthetic construction utilises recycled materials, making them the sustainable alternative to wood, which is also low maintenance.

In order for a Pulastic surface to perform correctly it is vital that the sub-flooring is properly prepared. The expertise of the Sport and Play team meant that in addition to undertaking the removal and disposal of the old floor, they were also able to perform the remedial work to the sub-floor that was necessary before the Pulastic top-layer was installed. The installation was then carried out and the entire project was completed within days.

Robert Jamieson, Services Director at Nexus Community, said: "We are delighted with the new sports hall surface at the Abbey Centre and the response from the centre's users has been equally enthusiastic. The fact that the Pulastic material can withstand damage from chair legs opens up a number of possibilities in terms of activities that can be held in the hall, and the new floor is also providing greater comfort for existing users and improved ball response for a lot of the racquet sports and ball games that are played there. Everyone is benefiting.

"We are grateful to Sport and Play, both for their knowledgeable advice during the initial stages and throughout the project and the speed at which they were able to complete the installation."

Sport and Play provide a comprehensive range of installation, maintenance and repair services for all kinds of leisure centres and attractions, including both indoor and outdoor sports surfaces. Other services available to leisure centres include a total health & safety audit of sports hall facilities, providing an independent review of all equipment and an in-depth report as to its status and safety.

Further information on Nexus Community and their portfolio of leisure centres can be found at their website www.nexuscommunity.org. Details of Sport and Play's wide range of services can be seen at www.sportplay.co.uk. Alternatively, please contact them by phone on 0845 873 7712 or by email at info@sportplay.co.uk.

Sport and Play Triple the Fun for Children at Paradise Park

Paradise Park in Newhaven is a garden centre with a difference. In addition to the complete range of products and services that one expects to find at a well-equipped garden centre, the park also boasts a huge number of additional attractions, making it the perfect destination for a family day out.

Amongst the many activities on offer at Paradise Park, visitors can enjoy the Newhaven Maritime Museum (maintained by the local historical society); the extensive and award-winning themed gardens, containing a wide variety of exotic species; a mineral and fossil exhibition and much more. The park also has plenty to keep children entertained, including crazy golf, a model boat pond, giant dinosaurs and an indoor play area.

Sport and Play provide ongoing maintenance and servicing for the indoor play area, ensuring that it is always in excellent condition and compliant with all relevant health and safety legislation.

As part of a recent project at Paradise Park, Sport & Play have also undertaken the expansion of this facility. The improved play area is three times the size of the original and contains a large new slide, with all new elements being seamlessly integrated into the original structure

Mr. Tate, Managing Director at Paradise Park said: ‘Sport and Play have provided us with an excellent service, undertaking both the design and installation of our improved indoor play area. By ensuring that the original structure was maintained as part of the final layout, their design for the new area is both efficient and cost-effective. Now that the initial build has been completed, their ongoing inspection and maintenance service means that we can always be confident that the structure is safe for use and in good condition.’

Paradise Park - Old Structure Before Extension	Paradise Park - New Slide	Paradise Park - New Extension	Paradise Park - New Extension - Side View

Further information on Paradise Park can be found at their website www.paradisepark.co.uk. Details of Sport and Play’s wide range of services can be seen at www.sportplay.co.uk. Alternatively, please contact them by phone on 0845 873 7712 or by email to info@sportplay.co.uk.

Sport & Play Refurbish Granwood Floor at Seaford Leisure Centre

The Downs Leisure Centre in Seaford is one of several facilities owned and operated by Wave Leisure, a charitable trust with a number of venues in the coastal area of East Sussex. The Downs Leisure Centre offers its users a wide variety of amenities including a gymnasium, a solarium and a children’s play area. Like many modern leisure centres, the heart of the facility is its sports hall.

The Seaford centre’s hall is utilised for numerous sports and classes, from yoga and badminton through to roller-skating and children’s parties. To cope with this heavy and continual use, the hall is fitted with durable and multi-purpose Granwood flooring.

Granwood is a wooden ceramic mix sports floor that provides a durable and hardwearing surface. It offers high performance in conjunction with comparatively low maintenance requirements, due to a hardwearing polyurethane seal that allows the use of wet cleaning techniques.

Despite being incredibly durable, this seal is subject to wear and tear, and when it requires renewal a specialist skill set is required. Such was the case with the floor at the Downs Leisure Centre after several years of intense use.

 

 

 

 

 

Sport & Play were selected to carry out the refurbishment due to their significant expertise in the fitting and maintenance of all common sports floor types. They commenced work by carefully sanding and preparing the surface for the new sealant. Following this, two complete coats of polyurethane were applied and court markings renewed. The project was then completed with the application of a further coat of sealant.

Fred Furner, Centre Manager at Wave’s Downs Leisure Centre, said: ‘We are increasingly reliant on Sport & Play to deliver our maintenance needs and their wide ranging expertise means that they can meet all of our requirements, including even highly specialised work such as this floor refurbishment. As ever, the quality of their work is first class and was carried out quickly and efficiently with a minimum of disruption to the centre users.’

Further information on Wave Leisure can be found at their main website www.waveleisure.co.uk or by contacting individual centres. Details of Sport and Play’s wide range of services can be found at www.sportplay.co.uk. Alternatively, please contact them by phone on 0845 873 7712 or by email to info@sportplay.co.uk.