About EcoSport Innovations
The independent experts behind every project
Why EcoSport Innovations?
Helping Grass Roots Clubs to Professional-level projects
Full-chain expertise
When your consultant has manufactured surfaces, installed them, tested them, and managed the projects that delivered them, they know where things go wrong. A feasibility study from someone who has laid a surface themselves is fundamentally different from one written by someone who has only read about it.
Sustainability with substance
At every decision point, we pause and ask: can we do better? Bio-basin drainage instead of plastic attenuation. Cork infill instead of rubber crumb. Biodiversity net gain designed in, not bolted on. Carbon-neutral targets that are engineering goals, not marketing lines. No greenwashing.
Authority through association
Our clients range from village clubs to Premier League training grounds. Five EPL clubs. Every synthetic pitch in the Northern Ireland Premiership. Scotland's first cork-infill pitch. England's first cork-infill stadium pitch. The same standard of care, the same depth of expertise, applied wherever the project is.
OUR COMMITMENT
PUSH AHEAD OF THE CURVE
“Sustainability takes forever, and that’s the point.” – Willem McDonough
We want to provide our clients with the most sustainable sports facility the industry can provide whilst respecting limited budgets through innovative, bespoke design and life cycle costing.
In recent years, we have focused on sustainable sports pitch technology because we can. Expertise over talk enables us to make educated decisions utilising the latest in high efficiency sustainable solutions; the solutions are out there.
Working closely with the industry, we continue to engage with the latest environmentally responsible innovations .
- Carbon-neutral facility design targets
- Organic infill specified over rubber crumb
- Off-grid and low-energy electrical systems
- End-of-life planning from day one
- Biodiversity net gain on every project
- Bio-basins and bio-retention over plastic attenuation
- Recycled and sustainable polymer specification
- Aligned with UK Sport and Sport England strategies
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Principle Consultant
Nick Rickerby
Nick Rickerby oversees client engagement and leads project design, guiding sports facility developments from initial concept through planning and delivery.
He began his career as a contracts manager with a leading sports facility contractor, before being recruited by a major sports pitch consultancy. As Principal Consultant, Nick delivered facilities for a wide range of public and private sector clients, including the Football Foundation.
He later became Football Foundation Framework Manager for a leading synthetic turf manufacturer, gaining over fifteen years of experience across the synthetic and hybrid turf sector. This has given him a rare, end-to-end understanding of facility development, spanning design, construction, and long-term operation.
In recent years, Nick has focused on sustainable sports pitch technology, delivering Scotland’s first cork-filled 3G pitch and England’s first stadium installation using organic infill. Working closely with the industry, he continues to engage with the latest environmentally responsible innovations .
BSc Hons Surveying & BTEC National Diploma Construction Studies
InfoDrainage and AutoCAD
Environmental Consultant
Ian Stoneman
With over twenty years of experience in conservation and land management, Ian brings a strong grounding in practical habitat restoration, regulatory compliance, and strategic environmental oversight.
His career includes senior roles with Hampshire County Council and the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, where he delivered multi-habitat projects across woodland, wetland, and grassland sites under a range of grant schemes and statutory designations.
He later transitioned into the construction sector, advising on pollution control and arboricultural constraints, particularly Tree Preservation Orders and conservation areas, and working closely with planning authorities to ensure legislative compliance. This provided him with valuable insight into environmental consultancy within development-led contexts.
Ian’s in-depth knowledge of UK plant communities, soil ecology, and habitat requirements enables him to design robust, site-specific planting schemes that enhance biodiversity, stabilise soils, and integrate sensitively with the surrounding landscape.
BSc Hons Environmental Protection
Got a Project in Mind?
Every project starts with a conversation. Tell us what you’re thinking and we’ll tell you whether we’re the right person to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
EcoSport Innovations strive to be as transparent and informative as possible. If you don’t see your question answered below, drop us an email!
Who is behind EcoSport Innovations?
What does 'independent' mean in the context of sports pitch consultancy?
Independent means we have no financial relationship with any surface manufacturer, contractor, or installer. We do not receive commission, referral fees, or incentives from any supplier. When we recommend a surface system or a contractor, that recommendation is based solely on what is best for your project. This independence is the foundation of our value. It is what allows us to give genuinely unbiased advice.
Why does EcoSport focus on sustainability?
Synthetic sports surfaces have historically worked in conflict with the environment. Rubber crumb infill releases microplastics, conventional drainage uses non-recyclable plastic attenuation, and end-of-life disposal is a growing problem. EcoSport was founded on the belief that sports facilities can be delivered sustainably without compromising performance or increasing cost. The 2031 microplastics transition means sustainability is no longer optional. It is a business reality that every facility owner must now address.
What is EcoSport's approach to environmental design?
We take a proactive approach at every decision point: can we do better? This means specifying organic or recycled infill materials instead of rubber crumb, replacing plastic egg-crate water attenuation with bio-basins and bio-retention systems, incorporating biodiversity net gain into planning applications, evaluating carbon-neutral design options, and promoting off-grid electrical systems to reduce long-term running costs. We aim to eliminate environmental harm rather than mitigate it after the fact.
What is EcoSport's track record with sustainable infill?
Does EcoSport only work on large projects?
How does EcoSport stay current with industry developments?
We actively track regulatory changes (including the EU REACH microplastics restriction and the UK HSE review), attend industry events, maintain relationships with governing bodies and funding organisations, and continuously evaluate new surface technologies and materials as they enter the market. Our involvement in pioneering projects, such as the UK’s first cork-infill pitches, means we are often at the leading edge of industry innovation rather than following it.