Liverpool FC has transformed the new home for its FC Women into a brand-new, high-performance pitch. To maintain the high standard of all its fields, the club has also strengthened its relationship with Husqvarna.
The club has taken out a 10-year lease on St Helens Stadium and has fitted a Grassmaster-system. The stadium is also used by the St. Helens R.F.C.
The AXA Melwood Training Centre also has Grassmaster fields, making it a seamless transition for the team from training to home matches.
LFC Women manager Matt Beard said: “It was wonderful last season to train every day on the fantastic surfaces at the AXA Melwood Training Centre.
“To replicate that at our new home stadium at St Helens is really exciting and we can’t wait to play our first match on it. It’s up to us now to show the supporters what we can do on this superb surface.”
The pitch upgrade is part of the new agreement for LFC Women to share the stadium with St. Helens R.F.C. – with both their women’s and men’s teams benefitting from the pitch work. It has been a joint effort by both LFC and St. Helens grounds staff.
The stadium will continue to be the home and property of St. Helens R.F.C. With the rugby league season running from February through to September, LFC Women will have sole occupancy of the stadium for almost half their season.
Cut to precision
Since 2021, LFC has also been using Husqvarna robotic mowers to maintain the pristine conditions of the green spaces at AXA Training Centre, and AXA Melwood Training Centre.
With new technologies and developments currently coming up at rapid speed, the club has also strengthened its relationship with the company, that originates from Sweden.
Through this partnership, Husqvarna’s state-of-the-art equipment and innovative solutions will be more deeply integrated into LFC’s groundskeeping teams’ daily routines and pitch upkeep, making it a key part of creating and maintaining optimal pitch conditions for elite-level playing and training.
“We are thrilled to announce this partnership between Liverpool FC and Husqvarna, two premium market leaders united by their shared values and innovative approach,” says Ben Latty, Chief Commercial Officer at LFC. “We have developed ambitious commercial targets to attract the best brands that fit with Liverpool Football Club, and that can also help drive further success on the pitch. Husqvarna’s reputation for quality and innovation in grounds maintenance is unmatched, and we look forward to working closely with them to ensure our facilities continue to be maintained to the highest possible standards.”
“We are incredibly excited about the partnership with Liverpool Football Club, a globally recognized and prestigious institution that also shares our values, innovative approach and commitment to sustainability. It is truly a perfect match!” says Yvette Henshall-Bell, President Europe, Forest & Garden Division at Husqvarna. “Together, we bring unparalleled experiences to fans and customers worldwide and we look forward achieving great things on and off the field.”