Avro FC is pleased to announce the successful installation of protective safety padding on the retaining wall beneath the main stand at the Vestacare Stadium.
The project was funded by the Premier League Stadium Fund (PLSF) as part of the Football Association’s ongoing work to improve safety standards around concrete pitch perimeter barriers across the football pyramid.
Under the FA’s 2026/27 Stadium Accreditation Criteria, solid brick, block and concrete pitch-perimeter walls at Steps 1–6 must be removed or, where that isn’t structurally possible, covered with suitable protection.
The one-piece design we’ve installed fully protects the retaining wall’s face, leading edge and top while maintaining a uniform appearance throughout the stadium. Our padding has been fully tested against exposed hard surfaces, showing up to a 97% reduction in peak angular acceleration – a significant improvement in player safety.
Each pad features Velcro strips across the face, allowing us to fix sponsor banners and advertising straight onto the padding. What begins as a compliance requirement becomes valuable pitchside space that the club can sell.
Anyone interested in advertising opportunities on the new perimeter wall can email Commercial@avrofc.co.uk
While the process might have seemed to take a long time, extensive thought and research has been undertaken to ensure that the correct material was used and risks were properly mitigated.
We would like to thank the PLSF team for their support during the process, the FA for regular updates, Foams 4 Sports for supplying and installing the materials, and our Health & Safety Consultants, Rhino Safety, for their expertise and guidance throughout.
This installation represents another important step forward in making the Vestacare Stadium a safer environment for players, officials and everyone who visits on matchday.
