SAPCA AWARDS 2025

The winners of the SAPCA Awards 2025 have been revealed at a gala dinner held at the Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester. Now in their 10th year, the awards celebrate the achievements of members of the Sports and Play Construction Association (SAPCA)

Ever since their launch in 2015, the annual SAPCA Awards have grown in scale, importance and recognition. The awards are a way of showcasing the successes and achievements of SAPCA members to those in the industry. The awards recognise facility projects, products, services and people which show the wide range of innovation, technical excellence and reliability held across the SAPCA membership. While SAPCA’s core mission is focused on the technical standards and quality of construction projects, the awards also celebrate the positive impact that the facilities created by SAPCA members make in communities across the UK. As a result, social value has become a key criteria considered by the panel of judges.

Sector excellence

The 2025 edition of the awards saw more than 40 entries being submitted across the six categories. In addition to the six winners, there were eight finalists who were recognised for their entries. Former SAPCA Chair, Eric Page, was also given a lifetime achievement award during a gala dinner attended by nearly 200 people.

Small Sports or Play Project of the Year (under £350k)

WINNER: Jupiter Play and Leisure – inclusive play area at Stanway Community Centre, Colchester FINALIST: Portico Sport – Club de Padel – a four-court padel club development in Deansgate in the centre of Manchester

Jupiter Play and Leisure won the SAPCA Award 2025 for Small Project of the Year for its work on an inclusive playground at Stanway Lakelands Community Centre, Colchester. Jupiter was commissioned to design, supply and install a play facility aimed at encouraging children of all abilities to be able to interact and play together.

The company designed and created a bespoke unit to provide a range of opportunities for different kinds of play, with sensory play being a priority. The colour palette was kept deliberately neutral, with gentle pops of blue helping connect to their community centre.

This allows neurodiverse children to not get overstimulated and be able to spend more time engaging with the play. Two outdoor “rooms” were created to allow children to rest and retreat from the main play without having to step away altogether.

People

SAPCA Person of the Year

WINNER: Louis Keeley, Senior Consultant, Labosport FINALIST: Adam Collier, Head of Sales, Fordingbridge

As well as managing an extensive portfolio of clients simultaneously – and delivering outstanding results while maintaining a high level of professionalism and reliability – Louis is deeply committed to the growth and development of junior consultants within Labosport. He generously shares his expertise and provides invaluable mentorship to the next generation of industry professionals.

His reputation as a trusted and dependable source of knowledge extends across the sector, where colleagues and clients alike recognise his commitment to advancing best practices and the technical knowledge within the industry. His daily contributions have been deemed to go above and beyond, not only supporting his immediate team but also positively influencing the industry as a whole.

Large Sports or Play Project of the Year (over £350k)

WINNER: Total-Play and Fordingbridge – a 10-lane “cricket shield” At Bradford Park Avenue Cricket Club FINALIST: Dynamik Sport Surfaces – Coronation Square, the largest multi-sport sports flooring and acoustic walling project in the UK FINALIST: Jupiter Play and Leisure – Skypark Interactive play area at Butlins Minehead

Total-Play partnered with fellow SAPCA member, Fordingbridge, to deliver a £1.5million, 10-bay all-weather cricket dome at Bradford Park Avenue. The facility – the first of its kind – was funded by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in partnership with City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, and is set to provide cricket sessions for 10,000 people from the local community each year.

The building features two 40mx20m covered domes with a lighting system, elite cricket surface and a retractable netting system enabling both training and matchplay, replicating the features of an elite indoor facility. It will enable local cricketers to play all year round and in any weather.

The ‘Cricket Shield’ bridges the gap between a traditional outdoor system and an indoor centre, protecting players from wet and windy conditions while encouraging air flow and maintaining a comfortable temperature.

SAPCA Young Person of the Year

WINNER: Ryan Latto, Field Technician, Sports Labs FINALIST: Lewis Turnbull, Apprentice Electrician, Halliday Lighting FINALIST: Teddy Edwards, Project Co-ordinator, JHP Electrical Services

Ryan Latto won the SAPCA Young Person of the Year Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions and exceptional growth within Sports Labs over the past eight years.

Since joining the Sports Labs, Ryan has progressed into the role of Field Supervisor. He has travelled to more than 40 countries and has tested 600+ sports surfaces, showcasing not only his technical skills but also his adaptability and global perspective. His extensive experience allows him to provide invaluable support to Sports Labs’ global team of technicians, ensuring they are equipped with the knowledge and resources necessary for success. Since September 2024, Ryan has also provided training to staff from six different countries across three continents.

Eric O’Donnell, CEO of Sports Labs, said: “Ryan has consistently demonstrated remarkable dedication and expertise. His journey has been marked by a commitment to excellence and a passion for his work, evidenced by his status as an accredited technician for the entirety of his tenure.”

Sustainability Award

WINNER: Herculan – a 100% recycled indoor polyurethane sports floor solution FINALIST: Polytan Sports UK / McArdle – Rekortan Gel GT, a non-porous athletics track surface

Herculan Full Circle is a 100% recycled Indoor polyurethane (PU) sports floor and one of the first of its kind. While companies are increasingly recycling artificial turf and athletic tracks, indoor sports floors tend to be forgotten about – and often end up in landfill. Herculan’s Full Circle looks to provide a solution to this issue by reusing the materials and providing an entirely new product without compromising on its performance.

The process to create Full Circle starts with an old PU floor being removed from the sub-base, ground down to a crumb consistency and reinstated as the cushion layer. The new base layer is then sealed, recoated, line marked and ready to be used again. The whole process can be repeated again and again.

Based on the size of an average sports hall, this process avoids approximately 6 - 7 tons of waste going to landfill, because the granulation process is carried out on site and combined with the in-situ installation means a massive reduction in the shipping of the base layer materials.

Product of the Year

Winner: polytan sports uk / mcardle – rekortan gel gt, a non-porous athletics track surface finalist: carbon8 lighting / jbcorrie – retractable sports play lighting tower

Rekortan Gel GT by Polytan won the Product of the Year category at this year’s SAPCA Awards. Rekortan Gel GT is a non-porous athletics track surface made using renewable raw materials. Certified by World Athletics for high- performance athletics at the competitive level, the gel-based PU technology provides optimal, stable shock absorption, enabling high acceleration, even at extreme temperatures.

Thanks to the gel properties of the material, which is added in-situ, any irregularities are levelled out during installation, resulting in a completely level running track surface. The tested covering layer, which consists of a self-levelling PU coating interspersed with EPDM granules, guarantees high spike resistance and excellent colour stability. Green Technology and high performance are no longer mutually exclusive.

The first full track installation in the UK using the new product was at HMS Temeraire in Portsmouth. Covering a 7-lane, 400m track, the innovative surface was made of 60% renewable materials.