Garden wall solution for new-look sports stand
Pictured at the new stand at Cookstown Hockey Club designed by Acheson & Glover are from left: Stephen Cuddy, Project Manager, Cookstown Hockey Club; Raymond Gilmour, Technical Consultant, Acheson & Glover; Gareth Cuddy, Technical Project Manager, Cookstown Hockey Club and Irish International David Ames who is a member of Cookstown Hockey Club.
A new state-of-the art hockey pitch and stand in Cookstown is raising the game for players and fans across the country.
The unique grand stand was specially designed by Fivemiletown based company Acheson & Glover and is a ‘first’ of its type, using retaining walls for three tiered levels, instead of traditional precast concrete terracing and steps.
Accommodating up to 2,000 people, the stand was completed in less than five weeks and provides unrestricted viewing across the new water-based pitch.
Club vice chairman and project manager, Stephen Cuddy, said the new facility provides the only viewing facility in Irish hockey in which flood lighting is set behind the spectators who enjoy a vantage point from all angles.
“The spectator area was created solely using Acheson & Glover products and as well as being a practical and economical alternative to traditional terracing, the dry stack blocks have a natural stone appearance and fit well into the natural landscape,” said Stephen. “The stand area leads into a greenfield site, and a lot of concrete would just not have looked right.
“We are absolutely delighted with the result and have had excellent feedback from fans who get a great perspective on the game straight away. The problem with traditional stands is that there is not enough height in between the levels and now, thanks to an initial 1.5 metre high wall and a 400mm rise between the tiers, spectators don’t miss any of the action on the pitch.”
The Acheson & Glover design, part of an overall £950,000 hockey club upgrade, had special significance for the club in that company managing director, Mr Raymond Acheson, is a life member and the only captain in its 50-year history to have steered Cookstown to Irish Senior Cup glory when the 1st X1 lifted the cup in 1987.
The extensive project has also served to raise the profile of Cookstown Hockey Club to a higher level within the sport, with Stephen attributing its successful bid to host this year’s U21 Celtic Cup to the new, modernised facilities.
“We secured the bid and are the selected venue to host this prestigious tournament in July,” he said. “We will have 180 international players from Ireland, France, Wales and Scotland playing on our new pitch, and that is largely down to our improved venue.”
Acheson & Glover Technical Consultant, Raymond Gilmour, said the idea for the tiered stand was developed from the company’s widespread use of a tiered walling system popular in landscaped gardens.
“Basically, we applied the same principle, using Acheson & Glover Anchor Vertica Block, incorporating our cappingstone and reinforcing grid to provide stability,” explained Raymond. “The Anchor Vertica blocks were also used to form the steps to access the viewing platforms. It was a perfect design solution as it is aesthetically pleasing and cheaper than traditional terracing.
“The raised sections have a coloured, textured finish and even when empty, the stand is a real feature and still looks great!”