Paignton Community Sports College gets the TigerTurf treatment

Since it was installed in October, the new Football Development Centre at Paignton Community College has been an overwhelming success. The new facility boasts a full sized, top of the range TigerTurf pitch, floodlights, a full range of portable goals, male, female and disabled changing rooms, an indoor viewing area and a coach education room.  The facility was funded through a joint project between The College, Torbay LEA and the Football Foundation.
By installing the 3G pitch and choosing Total Turf 65, the college has been able to significantly increase the amount of play on the area. The planned usage programme runs from 8 am to 9.30pm. Rob Payne Football Development Officer said “With such a consistent surface replicating all the characteristics of a grass pitch, players’ confidence and technical abilities continue to grow rapidly”.  The new development has also meant that the Paignton Sports College and Torquay United Football Development

Programme has gone from strength to strength. Now in its third year, the project aims to take young players to the next level by offering a range of academic, football and sport related qualifications. Under the expert footballing tutelage of former Premier League custodian, Robbie Herrera, the group trains daily and competes in both Wednesday and Sunday Leagues. Players who impress are then rewarded by being given the opportunity to train with Torquay United’s full first team and despite the programme’s relative infancy, there have been some outstanding success stories. Over the course of 2010 the Colleges Football Development Centre will aim to promote: 
• Regular Coaching / Training Sessions
• School Competitions
• Local League Matches
• Disability Festivals
• 6/7 a side Central Venue Leagues
• County Competitions
• Coach Education 

There are also plans to launch a new campaign to Raise Standards and Promote Positive behaviour, called RESPECT which will help gain more Charter standard accredited clubs. Jason Trevarthen, Assistant Principal and Director of Sport at Paignton Community Sports College said “the impact of such an impressive facility cannot be underestimated within the College and the local Community as a whole. The football community is delighted with a full range of junior, senior and professional clubs keen to experience and use the surface, including Torquay United first team. We have all been extremely impressed with TigerTurf Total Turf 65. After extensive research and testing, visiting numerous professional clubs throughout the country to compare surfaces, we believe this product to be the very best on the market.”