Taking facilities to the next level with total-play

Reigate Grammar School wanted to take their cricket programme to the next level and with the help of total-play they have been able to do that

Promotional feature

For the 2021 season it was so important, more than any other, for the schools game to hit the ground running.

The lost season in 2020 created a danger that young people would lose interest in cricket through a lack of playing, so reigniting that love was crucial.

That passion for the game is clearly evident at Reigate Grammar School who are accommodating more cricketers than ever before, and very thankful to total-play for helping them facilitate this growth.

“When I arrived there were 130 kids playing cricket for the school, and now there are over 300,” James Leck, head of cricket at Reigate Grammar School, tells The Cricketer.

“To have the best part of a third of the school, both boys and girls, representing their school is great.”

2021 was a successful summer for cricket at Reigate Grammar with fixtures aplenty while they extended the game to pupils of all abilities as well as hosting local clubs.

They were able to do this thanks to total-play who have transformed the cricket facilities at the school.

^{James Leck is head of cricket at Reigate Grammar School}

“Total-play conducted ‘Lifecycle Maintenance’ on our six lane net facility, refurbishing it for the next lifecycle of use,” Leck continues.

“The nets hadn’t been touched since total-play installed them 15 years ago. The existing worn carpets and shockpads were removed, before surface levelling maintenance was conducted, over which new replacement shockpads and playing surface carpets were fitted.”

Additionally, total-play provided four new sightscreens, boundary ropes, pitch covers and moved an old non-turf match pitch away from grass pitches to effectively create an entirely new playing area.

All four of Reigate Grammar’s pitches now have sightscreens while all three grass squares are covered. The new playing area that moving the old non-turf match pitch has created means that more matches can be played at once.

The importance of the covers cannot be understated. By keeping the wickets in pristine condition, not only can the school put on more games for their own teams, but also for local clubs who use the facilities on Sundays.

“I just want the kids to be able to play cricket and love the game.” But total-play’s impact doesn’t end with just providing grounds equipment.

“Total-play provided consultancy assistance during the rejuvenation process of our grass wickets. Right at the beginning of the first lockdown in April 2020 we decided to rip up our pitches and start again knowing that they weren’t going to be needed that summer.”

Total-play were instrumental in advising the route forward, and they are very well-placed to do so, with managing director David Bates spending several years as head groundsman at Northamptonshire. He has also been a pitch adviser and trainer for the Institute of Groundsmanship.

^{The new net facility}

“David came down and did some sampling and has been in touch ever since, helping our maintenance programme working alongside our groundstaff.

“Both grass wickets are now better than they ever were and they’re only going to get better. They’re more consistent and carrying much better.

“The communication with total-play during the five-year project has always been very good. It was a very good service and we haven’t had any issues with anything that has been done.”

Thanks to total-play, Leck is on track with his big ambitions for cricket at Reigate Grammar. As well as continuing to grow the number of pupils playing and enjoying the game, as well as developing strong relationships with local clubs such as Reigate Priory, Leck wants to break into the professional game.

“It’s a pipe dream but long-term we would love to host the South-East Stars as an outground. We have the infrastructure in terms of facilities and catering to host these big events. The consultancy and work we have done with total-play has been really important to getting to this point.”

Anthony Burton of total-play Ltd says: “Reigate Grammar School are yet another great example of how we are able to conduct ‘Lifecycle Maintenance’ on our original ‘tp365’ facility construction. After 15 years of extensive use, the integrity of the existing base and steelwork are still viable. Our ’tp365’ base construction is infinitely maintainable, so with some level maintenance, replaced shockpads and playing surface carpets, the facility is now ready for the next generation of users. Clearly, much more cost effective for the school than having to replace the entire facility.”

To find out how total-play can help your school or club, visit www.total-play.co.uk or call 01604 864 575