Notts Sport Delivers Refurbished Multi-Sports Pitch for Rye Hills Academy

Notts Sport, in May of this year, worked in partnership with Rye Hills Academy in delivering a fully refurbished multi‐sport pitch, supported by funding from the Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council Levelling Up Fund.

The £250,000 investment has transformed the Academy’s synthetic pitch (originally installed in 2007) into a modern facility designed for both hockey and football. Upgrades included installation of a brand-new synthetic surface, energy-efficient LED floodlighting and a vibrant blue surround. The facility will deliver year-round usability regardless of weather conditions.

Rye Hills Academy has for some time served as a key community hub in Redcar — notably as home to the Redcar Hockey Club, and the only full-sized artificial hockey pitch in the borough. With this refurbishment, Redcar Hockey Club is able to return home this season, re‐igniting local participation and boosting community engagement in the sport.

Installation of the surfacing was expertly carried out by Bernhards Sports Surfaces, a trusted specialist in sports pitch construction known for high-quality delivery. The surface meets international standards for hockey (FIH National) and offers multi-sport capability for football and other uses.

Andrew Crosby (Estates Director, North East Learning Trust) commented:

“This project has been a very successful collaboration, and I am delighted that we have been able to give the pitch a new lease of life. The energy‐efficient, multi‐use pitch allows Rye Hills Academy to offer a brilliant sports facility to its students and the wider community.”

Cllr Carrie Richardson (Deputy Leader, Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council) added:

“This is an excellent facility which will be an asset to the borough. It will not only support sport and exercise at the school and boost the historic Redcar Hockey Club but benefit the entire community.”

At Notts Sport, we remain committed to delivering innovative surfacing solutions that meet the needs of schools, clubs and local authorities across the UK. We congratulate Rye Hills Academy (and Redcar Hockey Club) on this milestone and look forward to seeing the benefits of sustained use.