As we prepare for our first home game of the 2026/27 season, against Tranmere Rovers this weekend, we've been catching up with Mark Rogers - Operations Manager at Sel Environmental - the Principal Contractors tasked with managing the installation of our brand-new playing surface.
Here, he answers 10 key questions as we gear up for Saturday's big game...
For anyone who doesn’t know about Sel's work, can you tell us a little about what you do and your experience in pitch installation?
Sel have been trading for over 20 years providing attenuation and sustainable drainage solutions and expanded into sports pitch installation after being involved with work at Real Madrid and Man City’s Etihad Stadium. We have since worked as Principal Contractor for clubs such as Man United, Burnley, Blackpool, Fleetwood Town, Oldham and last year built the pitch at Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium.
What was the brief when you were brought in to work on Vale’s new pitch?
The brief was to transform the existing playing surface into a free-draining, durable, high-performance pitch, while incorporating water harvesting and reuse. The aim was to give the club a consistently high-quality playing surface throughout the season, while also reducing its reliance on mains water for irrigation.
Can you talk us through what has actually gone into creating the new playing surface, from the initial preparation through to where we are now?
The old pitch was totally excavated and removed from site. The area was then surveyed and new levels set to give a flat playing surface. The old ‘crown’ was a dated concept initially to aid water run-off, no longer necessary with the new construction. Once at formation level, new drainage pipes were installed and a new pitch irrigation system. An impermeable membrane was then laid and 85mm Permavoid crates were installed on top to form the raft that the pitch sits on. The membrane was then wrapped up the edges of the perimeter crates to create, in essence, one big tank. The lower and upper rootzones, two different grades of sand-based material, were then installed, various fertilisers were added and the pitch was fine levelled and seeded. The pitch was then stitched to a depth of 180mm at spacings of every 20mm with plastic fibres.
How much work happens beneath the surface that supporters might not necessarily see?
The water that drains through the pitch collects in the raft. It can then be drained off and pumped into the irrigation tank that services both the stadium and the training pitches. This significantly reduces the club's reliance on mains water to irrigate the pitches, thus reducing costs.
How does the new pitch compare with the previous playing surface, and what difference should players notice when they first play on it?
The previous pitch was an old, soil-based construction that really struggled to move water away from the surface, resulting in waterlogging and poor grass plant health. As mentioned, it also had a crown or camber on it and the new pitch is now flat. Supporters will notice the difference in height along the Railway Stand side, hopefully giving them a better view. The players will find their footing is a lot surer on the stable surface and I’m sure the manager will be expecting the quick, sharp, passing game to be taken to a new level!
Equally, what should supporters look out for when they see the pitch for the first time this season?
What supporters see is the finished grass surface, but a huge amount of engineering sits underneath it. The pitch is effectively a managed drainage, attenuation and water-reuse system designed to provide the best possible conditions for the playing surface. All they will see a flat, elite surface with great views from all sides!
From a groundskeeping perspective, what does this new pitch allow the club to achieve that wasn't possible before?
Firstly, what Steve and his team achieved last season on the pitch was nothing short of miraculous given the conditions! I’m sure they will be thrilled working on this one going forward. They will be able to maintain a much higher standard of playing surface aided by the fact that it will be free-draining and a concise fertiliser programme will keep the grass plant healthy, so increasing the longevity of the pitch despite what the weather throws at them.
How important was precision during the installation? Are we talking millimetres when it comes to getting everything right?
The levels are down to millimetres, yes, from the Permavoid raft right through the rootzones, culminating in the stitching. Everything is planned meticulously to achieve an elite pitch that will perform as required.
What does a project like this involve in terms of planning and coordination, particularly with the club, grounds team and other contractors?
During the trials and tribulations of last season, particularly the winter, we sat down with the club and discussed what they wanted going forward and how we could help them achieve it. Senior Management and the Grounds Manager gave us a brief and we formulated a plan, both for the training pitches and Vale Park, that we were confident would take the club's playing surfaces to another level. The Grounds Team have been involved at every step of installation, gaining an insight and an understanding of how the pitches work and what is required to keep them performing throughout the season. As Principal Contractor we have various specialist companies that come in and fulfil specific tasks, like the installation of the irrigation systems, but our own team carries out the majority of the works.
Finally, how much of a difference will the investment in the new pitch make over the course of a season, particularly in terms of durability and consistency?
The difference to last year will definitely be very noticeable. The pitch will be far more stable and durable due to its make-up and the stitching, and should maintain far better grass cover due to the improved health of the plant. The flat pitch, expertly managed by Steve and his team, should remain consistent throughout the season and hopefully inspire results on it! We were delighted when the club put their faith in us for this major project and look forward to a long relationship with the Vale going forward!
On behalf of everyone here at Vale Park, a huge thank you to Mark and the entire team at Sel for their work in installing our new playing surface ahead of our first home game of the campaign this weekend!
