SPORTS & PLAY
“Sean and his colleague Matt Page
had developed the concept of a
goal designed to use on synthetic
pitches and wanted to trial it.
He approached us and we were
delighted to put the product
through its paces, as I believe that
latest generation synthetic pitches
deserve latest technology goals.”
A DevoShift training goal was
delivered earlier in 2019 and Wayne
trialled it for eight months on the
training centre’s Desso pitches.
His verdict is decisive. “For
groundsmen, this goal is a no-
brainer,” Wayne concludes. “The
concept is beautifully simple and
highly effective. Traditional wheeled
goals are tricky to turn on grass and
artificial surfaces and require large
gateways to remove them from the
pitch.
“Two people can quickly and easily
swivel and push the DevoShift goals
in any direction, not just forwards
and backwards, as with current
equipment.”
Full-sized DevoShift aluminium
goals, designed to conform to
the latest British and European
standards, turn sideways and can
be pushed/pulled through an access
gate only 2 or 3m wide,” he adds.
The goals break new ground in
another way. Stylishly fashioned,
with no wheels visible, thanks to
the unique moulded enclosures,
the DevoShift posts appear to float
across the ground. “They certainly
look, as well as feel, a world away
from traditional designs,” Wayne
states.
After deciding the goals would form
a permanent fixture at the training
centre, Wolves have become the
Premier League’s first club to
take custody of goalposts tailored
specifically to the demands of
synthetic turf and high-quality turf.
Universal-style jointed wheels allow
two people to manoeuvre them 360
degrees and push them on to and
around a pitch quickly and easily,
which will save time and money for
grounds managers, operators and
clubs alike.
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Known for innovation, Mark
Harrod Ltd developed the first
wheeled goals, now widely adopted
across sport. Fourteen years ago it
launched the Easylift, which allowed
frames to be pushed and pulled
around sites after raising them
above the playing surface.
The latest advance in training goal
design marks a further quantum
leap to create a goal featuring multi-
directional mobility. Two years
in development, the DevoShift is
intended to roll out on to synthetic
and high-quality pitches, allowing
site personnel to steer a full-sized
goal through access gates with
minimal fuss and resources.
Wolves’ new acquisition is important
for another reason, Wayne says: “The
installation coincides with launch
of British and European Standard
BSEN16579, which aims to tighten
up goal safety by eradicating pinch
points that can trap the fingers,
head or neck, as well as issues
relating to crushing and shearing
points.”
Designed to be fully compliant with
the new standard, the DevoShift
heralds a new era of football
provision spanning grassroots to
Premier League facilities, says R &
D developer Matt Page. “It allows
anyone to move the goal easily on
and off pitches in a way simply not
possible with existing products.”
Surface pressure of the goal is even
less than that of the Easylift, he
adds. “Schools will also welcome
the third generation advance, while
pitch facility managers can expect
far less downtime when positioning
goals.”
academy base hosts a season-full of
competitive matches across the U7
to U18 age groups.
“Under our plan to `dress` the show
pitch, Mark Harrod Ltd supplied and
fitted a pair of full-sized DevoShift
goals, Duralock white post and
rail perimeter fencing with gates,
bespoke dugouts, Ball Stop netting
system, freehanging 420S Box
Nets, aluminium 1m x 1.2m Target
goals and warm-up goals, “which
will help limit wear and tear in the
goalmouths”, Wayne confirms.
“Previous suppliers have proved
reluctant to provide products
not listed in their catalogue but
Sean and the team are prepared
to develop ones to suit our
requirements. His response is
always: `I’m sure we can help you`.”
Mark Harrod Ltd works closely with
football governing bodies and sports
clubs from elite to grassroots level.
It supports the England Amputee
Football Association and the English
Schools’ Football Association,
supplying and delivering goalposts
for tournaments under a continuing
commitment.
Every Mark Harrod Ltd product,
where relevant, conforms to current
British Standards and health and
safety guidelines. As a leading
sports equipment designer and
manufacturer, the company plays a
major role in shaping the future of
goalpost quality, from grassroots to
international level.
A castor system safely encased in a
tough ABS plastic cowl, with built-
in lift and lower mechanism, raises
operational ease and safety. “The
80mm surface clearance is more
than ample for synthetic and high-
quality pitches,” adds Wayne, “while
the smoother differential reduces
any risk of snag and drag when
moving the goal.”
With its family of pitches, including
the three Desso Grassmaster full-
size surfaces, the training and
www.markharrod.com
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