BRITISH Sugar TOPSOIL are to sponsor the Suffolk FA Grounds Support Programme.

The agreement between Suffolk FA and British Sugar TOPSOIL will initially run throughout the 2020-21 season.

The partnership will see British Sugar TOPSOIL offer Suffolk clubs 10 per cent off their Sports&Turf topdressing product.

Two British Sugar TOPSOIL Suffolk FA Grounds Support Programme CPD workshops will be held during the season, in partnership with the Grounds Management Association, with British Sugar TOPSOIL invited to attend as key speakers.

An organised tour of the British Sugar, Wissington, factory will be organised for groundsmen involved in the programme and clubs will be offered the chance for a British Sugar representative to attend their first Pitch Improvement Programme report meeting, alongside the Grounds Management Association.

Andy Spetch, National TOPSOIL Manager, said: “British Sugar TOPSOIL has a reputation for working with and supporting grassroots sport in East Anglia. British Sugar factories are located across the region and our soil and topdressing products are produced here.

“We are proud to be joining the Suffolk Grounds Support Programme for the 2020-21 season and look forward to working with Suffolk FA and the county’s local clubs, using our knowledge and expertise to help them maintain and improve their natural turf pitches.

“Rigorously trialled and tested by the STRI, our Sports&Turf topdressing – a 90/10 blend of medium to coarse sand and British Sugar TOPSOIL’s BS3882:2015 certified topsoil – is easy to spread and ideal for regular pitch maintenance and the repair of areas of excessive wear, such as goalmouths and centre circles.

“It integrates well into the surface, improving drainage and promoting regeneration of the sward. The soil element within the blend contains both phosphorous and potassium, which contributes to soil fertility and encourages healthy growth.

“We hope that by offering Suffolk FA-affiliated clubs a 10% topdressing discount and technical support, they will be able to achieve excellent playing surfaces cost-effectively.”

Suffolk FA Football Development Manager Jodie Allard said: “We are very pleased to be launching an official partnership with British Sugar TOPSOIL, who will be supporting the Grounds Support Programme.

“The improvement of grass football pitches remains a priority for the Suffolk FA and we are confident that the highly-regarded products that British Sugar TOPSOIL produce will be well utilised by the local grounds teams across Suffolk.

“We have seen first-hand the positive impact that their Sports&Turf topdressing product can have on improving grass pitches and we look forward to working closely with British Sugar TOPSOIL to continue to support and develop our grounds teams across the county.”

For further information about the Suffolk FA Grounds Support Programme, please contact Jodie Allard on 01449 616606 or 07432 735961 or via email jodie.allard@suffolkfa.com