Blackpool FC has seen major improvements to both its stadium and training ground facilities following the installation of a new Hunter irrigation system, supplied by KAR UK and installed by Arden Lea Irrigation.<\/p>\n
Head Groundsman Paul Flynn, who has been with the club for nearly five years, explained how the Hunter products have transformed operations, saving time, improving turf quality, and supporting player performance.<\/p>\n
Before the installation, Paul and his team relied on standpipes and travelling sprinklers \u2013 a process that was time-consuming and inefficient.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were wasting 20 to 25 hours a week just watering pitches by hand,\u201d Paul said. \u201cI told the club they\u2019d get that time back within a year if we invested in irrigation \u2013 and that\u2019s exactly what has happened.\u201d<\/p>\n
The first phase began at the training ground, with irrigation now fully operational across the main pitches and the sports science area. At the stadium, work is ongoing, with Hunter I80-ON sprinklers already replacing older, underperforming units.<\/p>\n
Blackpool\u2019s system includes the Hunter ACC2 Controller with Centralus, the Hunter GT-885, and the Hunter I80-ON sprinklers.<\/p>\n
The ACC2 Controller with Centralus allows Paul and his deputy to manage irrigation directly from their phones or via a roaming remote, giving them ultimate flexibility.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can press a button and water exactly where we want, whenever we want,\u201d Paul explained. \u201cIt makes growing, training preparation, and recovery so simple. We\u2019ve now got around 62 heads across the site, so we can literally water every blade of grass.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Hunter I80-ON heads, installed at Bloomfield Road Stadium, have already improved coverage and performance compared to the old system. The GT-885 sprinklers at the training ground provide strength, durability, and easy access for maintenance \u2013 crucial for a high-use facility.<\/p>\n
The improvements in irrigation have gone beyond aesthetics, directly impacting player welfare and training quality.<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore, some areas were rock hard, which contributed to calf and hamstring injuries,\u201d said Paul. \u201cNow we can keep surfaces consistent, which makes a huge difference for performance and safety.\u201d<\/p>\n
Managers have also benefitted, with the ability to prepare pitches to replicate match conditions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe current manager says the best thing is that the training pitches now resemble the stadium pitch,\u201d Paul added. \u201cIt means we can mirror match situations and even put the sprinklers on during sessions to improve ball speed \u2013 something we could never do before.\u201d<\/p>\n
Paul credited both KAR UK and Arden Lea Irrigation for their expertise and support throughout the project.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy relationship with Wes and Lee at KAR UK goes back years, and I know I can always rely on them,\u201d he said. \u201cArden Lea are also brilliant \u2013 I just pick up the phone and they\u2019re here the next day. Between the two of them, the whole process has been faultless.\u201d<\/p>\n
The old irrigation kit has even been donated to Blackpool Cricket Club, strengthening community ties and ensuring wider benefit from the project.<\/p>\n
With the training ground fully upgraded and stadium improvements ongoing, Paul believes Hunter irrigation will continue to play a vital role in Blackpool FC\u2019s future.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe health of the pitches has never been better,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s more efficient, saves us time, and helps the players perform. Honestly, I can\u2019t fault the system at all.\u201d<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Blackpool FC has seen major improvements to both its stadium and training ground facilities following the installation of a new Hunter irrigation system, supplied by KAR UK and installed by Arden Lea Irrigation. Head Groundsman Paul Flynn, who has been with the club for nearly five years, explained how the Hunter products have transformed operations, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4613,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[57],"class_list":["post-4612","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-blackpool-fc"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n