Marlow Sports Club

About Marlow Sports Club

Marlow Sports Club was originally founded in 1949, the club secured full ownership of the 15.5 acre site in 2011. Since then it has flourished into a vibrant sporting hub home to a collective of 2,500 members of different ages and backgrounds. The club also became a charity in 2011 and has since garnered a number of high-profile patrons including Alex Danson, Sir Steve Redgrave, Sir Andrew Strauss, Sir Clive Woodward, and most recently Naomi Riches and Tom Kerridge.

The club hosts a first-class Evo Pro hockey field, alongside four flood-lit all-weather tennis courts, petanque terrains, and an excellent cricket pitch and outfield with practice nets as well as two Pavilions.

A true community hub, Marlow Sports Club is home to a pre-school nursery and Horizon Rehabilitation (an expert provider of physiotherapy, sports injury management and neurological rehabilitation services). The Pound Lane site hosts member clubs including Marlow Cricket Club, Marlow Hockey Club, Marlow Riders, Marlow Striders and Marlow Tennis.

The original Evo Pro installation on the grand opening day in 2011.

Creating exceptional sporting experiences

Marlow Sports Club are passionate about creating exceptional sporting experiences. Their multi-sport facility caters to tennis, hockey, cricket, running, and cycling. In 2011, when they acquired their own ground, complete with a field and an all-weather pitch. The journey began when they collaborated closely with a local consultant who recommended TigerTurf Evo Pro, making it the first club in the UK to install the new product.

Growth and Usage: A Thriving Community

The club’s first Evo Pro pitch, installed by McArdle Sport Tec, initially hosted 3 men’s and 3 women’s teams. Over time, Marlow Sports Club has flourished, becoming home to seven men’s and seven women’s teams, with a vibrant player base of more than 800 individuals.

Longevity and Maintenance: A Testament to Quality

The UK’s first Evo Pro field has stood the test of time, lasting an impressive 13 years. Even as it approached the end of its lifespan, the field remained playable—a testament to its durability. The club take immense pride in their investment, diligently maintaining it through regular monthly and annual programs carried out by Technical Surfaces.

Resurfacing with Confidence

When the time came to replace the surface, Marlow Sports Club drew upon their sinking fund, established after the initial installation and annual fundraising with a large push in 2023. Despite exploring other options, the club’s members expressed solid satisfaction with Evo Pro. It was an easy decision to choose TigerTurf once again. Impressed by McArdle Sport Tec’s initial work, the club also re-engaged them for the resurfacing project.

Aesthetic Harmony and Functionality

For the new field, Marlow opted for a two-tone green design, seamlessly blending with the leafy surroundings. The team dug outs were strategically relocated to the other side of the pitch with a new umpires dugout and a new scoreboard to enhance the overall playing experience.

Community Engagement: Fostering Passion

Hockey remains the heartbeat of the field. Marlow Sports Club have nurtured partnerships with local schools, including Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School, Great Marlow School and local primary schools benefiting over 600 under-18 players. Initiatives like the “Back to Hockey” scheme and the Flyerz hockey program, held on Sundays, engage players of all ages and abilities. Additionally, Bucks Hockey relies on the surface for county training.

Keith Packer, Chairman at Marlow Hockey Club 2011-2023 and now Chairman of Marlow Sorts Club said ‘The quality of the surface when we installed it 13 years ago was fantastic and one of the reasons, we decided to choose it again now. Everyone involved including McArdle Sport Tec and Technical Surfaces did a great job!’