LIGHT IT UP

Designing and installing appropriate lighting solutions is crucial for the success and sustainability of sports facilities. SportsNation looks at recent projects and developments in sports lighting

The visual environment is a key part of the design of all modern sport facilities. Internal and external lighting is especially important when designing and building multi-use games areas (MUGAs) and artificial pitches. In recent years the sports and play construction sector has undergone a significant technological shift. Across the UK and beyond, LED lighting systems have rapidly become the industry standard, replacing older metal halide and halogen installations. The transition has been driven by a combination of factors, including improved energy efficiency, lower maintenance requirements and the ability to deliver more consistent, controllable illumination across a playing surface. For sports venues, getting the lighting solution right is about far more than visibility alone. High-quality lighting ensures athletes can perform safely and at their best, while helping officials, coaches and spectators clearly follow the action. At the same time, facility operators must carefully balance performance requirements with environmental and community considerations. Modern lighting designs must minimise spill and glare that could affect nearby homes or roads – an increasingly important factor as planning authorities place tighter restrictions on external lighting installations.

In October, SAPCA published its Code of Practice for Contractors Working on the Installation and Retrofitting of Sports Lighting. The code’s guidance ensures compliance with the latest safety, environmental and technical standards. To download the guide (and to see all other SAPCA Codes of Practice), visit: [https://sapca.org.uk/guide/codes-of-practice/](https://sapca.org.uk/guide/codes-of-practice/)

The kit met the lux brief first time, installed cleanly, and let us hand over on schedule with a robust, low maintenance LED solution

Thorn Lighting powers fast-track lighting upgrade at Powerleague site

The new Powerleague Nottingham Arnold football hub needed a rapid LED retrofit to open on schedule. The centre features eight five-a-side pitches and a full-size football pitch that can convert to four seven-a-side playing area.

Sports lighting specialists SJB Floodlighting selected SAPCA member Thorn Lighting as its lighting partner to deliver a fast, compliant LED replacement for the existing system. Two requirements set the direction: achieve 200 lx average with 0.60 uniformity on the full-size pitch and 120 lx average with 0.60 uniformity on the smaller five-a-side layouts. The project had to be completed within a tight 15-working-day window so installation could complete before the launch.

Thorn Lighting supplied its Altis and Areaflood Pro 2 solution within the required 15 working days, meeting the required lx targets with a cost-effective, low-maintenance option that supports high-quality play across multiple pitch formats. Altis LED’s high output and precision optics support clear visibility for players and officials across all formats. Areaflood Pro 2 extends that consistency around the site, helping routes and spaces feel intuitive and safe. The result is a coherent scheme that complements the new playing surfaces and refurbished clubhouse. Alongside refurbished social spaces, the efficient floodlighting was essential to provide the right experience for league nights, coaching and casual play.

Gareth Eley, SJB Floodlighting, said: “Lead time was the make-or-break factor on this project. Thorn confirmed Altis and Areaflood Pro 2 within 15 working days and kept us updated all the way. The kit met the lux brief first time, installed cleanly, and let us hand over on schedule with a robust, low-maintenance LED solution.”

Calverton Miners Welfare FC gets wireless lighting upgrade

Calverton Miners Welfare Football Club in Nottinghamshire has undergone a lighting transformation, replacing outdated metal halide fittings with energy-efficient LED floodlights and wireless lighting controls.

As part of a broader football framework initiative, the club aimed to improve visibility, energy efficiency, and lighting control – all without disrupting the existing infrastructure. The main contractor for the project appointed SAPCA member, Halliday Lighting, to deliver a full electrical installation, which included replacing the entire floodlighting system from the ground up, from underground cables, steel raised masts and equipment cabinet to front-end protection and relocated distribution and control.

A key requirement of the framework was the integration of dimmable controls to suit varied usage patterns and enhance energy savings. To achieve this, lighting specialist Tridonic supplied a tailored package of wireless lighting controls designed for outdoor sports environments. The upgrade included Tridonic’s basicDIM Wireless OTD modules, basicDIM Wireless G2, and PS3 power supplies – all engineered for outdoor performance and seamless integration.

Matt Caygill, Tridonic’s Business Development Manager, said: “This upgrade provides the club with a dependable and energy-efficient lighting solution that improves both safety and functionality. It’s a great demonstration of how wireless technology can elevate grassroots sports facilities, delivering optimal lighting conditions for players while enabling greater control and energy savings.”

It’s a great demonstration of how wireless technology can elevate grassroots sports facilities

Strength in partnership

A group of SAPCA members have worked together to deliver a safer and brighter skate park in Tamworth. The park, at Tamworth Castle Pleasure Grounds, has long been a hub for skaters, families and young people, but its ageing floodlighting system was no longer meeting the needs of a modern, high-use recreational space.

As part of Tamworth Borough Council’s wider improvement programme, the site has now undergone a significant transformation thanks to a full LED lighting upgrade designed and installed by JHP Electrical, working in partnership with fellow SAPCA members, McArdle Sport Tec and lighting manufacturer, Powerlite Fitzgerald.

The upgrade saw the removal of outdated fittings and the installation of 16 high-performance LED floodlights, each precisely aligned to deliver uniform illumination across the park’s varied terrain. Comprehensive lux level testing ensured full compliance with CIBSE guidelines, while the new system offers improved visibility, reduced energy consumption, and long-term reliability.

The result is a safer, brighter and more accessible environment that supports extended use during darker hours. Both McArdle Sport Tec and Tamworth Borough Council praised JHP Electricals’ professionalism and attention to detail, highlighting the project as a strong example of how modern lighting can enhance community sports facilities and promote sustainable recreational spaces.

Christy combines in-house manufacturing with luminaire technology from GigaTera

Lighting up an award winner

SAPCA member and sports lighting specialist, Christy Floodlighting, combines in-house manufacturing with luminaire technology from GigaTera – a manufacturer that has achieved FIFA Quality Pro approval alongside verified FIFA Standard A performance. Christy’s recent multi-sport projects include Christ’s Hospital School – a project which won the 2026 SAPCA Award for Large Project.

In partnership with GigaTera, Christy deployed the MAF Gen2 flat glass floodlight to achieve exceptional uniformity, control of spill and glare and high-quality playability across multiple sports areas, even within sensitive environments.

England Hockey names Kingfisher Lighting as its partner

England Hockey has appointed SAPCA member, Kingfisher Lighting, as its Official Lighting Partner in a new three-year agreement to support clubs nationwide. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to strengthening facilities and building a lasting future for the sport.

As part of the partnership, Kingfisher Lighting (a division of Luceco UK Limited) will work alongside England Hockey and its existing facilities partners to provide clubs with expert guidance, practical support and cost-effective solutions. This will include webinars, toolkits and tailored advice to help clubs improve, modernise, and future-proof their lighting facilities.

Head of Sports and High Mast at Kingfisher Lighting, Lee Hayter, said: “We are proud to strengthen our relationship with hockey and look forward to helping clubs develop their facilities with world-class lighting solutions.”