England to play on Desso DLW pitches at the National Football Centre

Desso DLW Sports Systems has been awarded the contract to supply the FA’s National Football Centre with four “third generation” artificial pitches. The England National side is already familiar with Desso DLW’s surfaces, having recently played two friendlies on the DD GrassMaster pitches at Villa Park and Anfield. Undefeated in both matches, they will hope that Desso DLW will bring them continued success.

Based at Burton-upon-Trent in Staffordshire, the 350-acre National Football Centre site will provide a state-of-the-art facility for all aspects of the game and will become the true “home of football”. Coach education, player development and research and medicine will all have their own dedicated resource. The Centre will also play a pivotal role as the headquarters for all England’s National Teams.

Desso DLW was involved in the project right from the start when their range of football products was proposed to the FA. One of the first to supply a sand/rubber-filled pitch when selected by Tottenham Hotspur FC for their training ground at Chigwell in 1998, Desso DLW’s client list has built up rapidly and they now count Real Madrid, FC Feyenoord and Liverpool FC among current supporters of their products. “It’s not difficult to see why our surfaces are so popular”, says Desso DLW, “with such an extensive range of sport-specific artificial carpets, we are able to supply the appropriate surface for the relevant sport. For football alone we have a range of ten surfaces, thereby allowing the client the opportunity to select the one that is right for them.”

“The pitches at the National Football Centre will provide the FA with a superb facility”, says Richard Thorley, UK General Manager of Desso DLW. “The surfaces supplied will use our patented DD Crown fibre which will ensure that the optimum playing characteristics are maintained for as long as possible. Whilst other brands of football surfaces use traditional fibres that split, change characteristics and ultimately wear out, we produce our own non-splitting fibre that plays better for longer.”

Desso DLW Sports Systems is the European market leader in sports surfaces, both indoor and outdoor. Each year, the factory produces over 2.5 million m² of artificial turf for soccer, tennis, hockey, rugby and other sports. The Company also manufactures unique linoleum, vinyl and textile sports floors for indoor use. Through its headquarters in Dendermonde, Belgium and sales offices throughout Europe, Desso DLW Sports Systems has a turnover of 55 million Euros and is part of Armstrong World Industries, a global leader in flooring solutions.

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