Emerging biological approaches offer an opportunity to create more sustainable and resilient playing surfaces.
Read MoreOver the last 25 years, I’ve worked in Business Development, Product development, Contract Management, Project Management and as a Principal Consultant. I’ve been involved in projects from the first client meeting to the final handover, and, more time than I can remember, long after that when something has gone wrong.
I’ve walked hundreds of sports pitches, synthetic surfaces, athletics tracks and recreational facilities. I’ve stood in muddy excavations, inspected failed drainage systems, reviewed specifications that looked perfect on paper but not in practice, and assessed installations where the materials and or workmanship simply didn’t match the promises.
One lesson stands out above all the rest: sports surfaces don’t fail overnight. There is almost always a reason. The challenge is finding it.
That’s where experience matters.
An expert witness isn’t there to take sides. My role is to uncover the facts, interpret the technical evidence and explain it clearly and objectively. Courts don’t need jargon; they need independent opinions backed by practical knowledge and sound reasoning.
Having worked on the commercial, technical and project management sides of the industry, I understand how decisions are made, where projects can go off course, and what the relevant standards actually require. More importantly, I know how to separate genuine defects from unrealistic expectations.
Every dispute is different, but the principles remain the same: investigate thoroughly, remain impartial and let the evidence lead the conclusions.
After 25 years, very little surprises me anymore. That doesn’t mean I think I know everything—it means I’ve learned where to look, what questions to ask, and how to identify the real issues hidden beneath the surface.
When solicitors, insurers, local authorities or private clients need an independent Sports Surface Expert Witness, they need more than someone who has read the standards. They need someone who has lived the industry.
The truth is usually there…you just have to know where to find it.
