Australians love soccer. It’s long been the sport with the highest participation rate nationwide, thanks in large part to the popularity of club competition for primary school-aged kids. With the round ball game so consistently popular in Victoria, providing a playing surface that provides the right performance, appearance, and durability is paramount. Clearly, the “beautiful game” deserves beautiful turf, something we at StrathAyr are proud to provide to the thousands of clubs and community sporting organisations across Melbourne and the rest of the state.
When it comes to quick establishment and the fastest repair from wear and tear, Eureka Premium VG Kikuyu is a star performer for sunny soccer fields. This grass grows vigorously, quickly covering bare patches that develop in high-wear zones like goalmouths. Its toughness makes it a practical and cost-effective solution for schools and local clubs that see a lot of play. While Eureka Premium VG Kikuyu requires regular mowing and good sunlight, its ability to bounce back from heavy usage makes it a reliable natural turf option for well-loved facilities that see a high volume of training sessions and competitive fixtures.
A popular choice for high-performance sports surfaces, TifTuf Bermuda is engineered for exceptional wear tolerance and rapid recovery. Its dense growth habit creates a durable surface that can withstand high foot traffic from demanding soccer schedules. TifTuf also boasts superior weed resistance and drought tolerance, requiring less irrigation to maintain its vibrant green colour, making it a water-wise option. Its ability to be mown low (it’s even used on golf courses for putting greens) contributes to a flat, consistent playing surface ideal for true ball roll, making it ideal for everything from local school pitches to elite-level stadiums.
Nullarbor Couch represents the traditional, hardy couch grass that has long served sports fields across Australia. Valued for its fine leaf texture and good wear tolerance, it provides a durable playing surface that will thrive in a full sun setting. It has many benefits characteristic of couch grasses, and while it requires consistent mowing to manage thatch and promote density, Nullarbor Couch is a proven, cost-effective turf for soccer pitches that require a classic fine-leaf finish. Thanks to its active underground runner system and fast-growing stolons, it can effectively repair quickly, especially during the warmer months.
Though best known as a popular residential lawn turf, Sir Walter’s hardiness makes it a practical choice for communal areas or feature lawns around clubhouses. It is undoubtedly the best turf where shade tolerance is needed, thriving in shady areas that would cause traditional sports couches to thin out. While it isn’t suited to the high-intensity wear of a playing field, its resilience and soft feel make it perfect for breakout spaces and picnic zones. Choosing Sir Walter for these areas allows for less maintenance compared to other turf types, offering a lush, green aesthetic with significantly less maintenance requirements for non-sporting commercial landscapes.
Beyond supplying standard rolls, StrathAyr offers specialised turf formats and services to meet the unique demands of modern soccer fields, from local club grounds to professionally maintained sports surfaces. These options can enhance installation efficiency, surface performance, and long-term viability.
For large soccer field renovations or establishing multiple pitches under tight deadlines, TifTuf Bermuda Maxi Rolls deliver exceptional speed and efficiency. These jumbo rolls cut down on handling and legwork, meaning faster installation, fewer joins, and a more uniform playing surface ready for play sooner. You get renowned TifTuf quality and durability across extensive sports surfaces, minimising labour costs and accelerating project timelines.
Building a soccer pitch to very specific standards, like those with special sand bases for excellent drainage? Sometimes, it’s essential that the turf installed is completely free of its original farm soil. Our turf washing service does just that – removing original growth medium and loose dirt from the turf roll, delivering clean, natural grass whose roots can bond directly with your carefully prepared surface. This gives your high-specification soccer field the best possible start for great performance and a truly flat playing surface.
Turf sprigs offer budget-friendly establishment across large areas like school ovals, junior club soccer fields or large training grounds. When an instant playing surface isn’t essential, our quality sprigs – gleaned from durable turf varieties like TifTuf Bermuda or Eureka Premium VG Kikuyu – can be planted over large areas and transform into durable soccer surfaces over ensuing months. With correct maintenance and care, it can offer great value for schools and clubs expanding their soccer facilities.
Get in touch with our helpful team for an obligation-free chat about choosing the best turf for soccer surfaces at your school or club. Send us a message or call us on 1800 622 455 today. Our experts can recommend the right turf format, help plan your install timeline and support you post-installation for the most efficient and effective playing surface possible.
We’ve supplied top-quality natural turf for some of Australia’s biggest sports surfaces, including the world-famous MCG, so you can trust our turf to perform at the highest level. Our expertise and industry experience mean all our instant turf creates far more than a pretty picture. It’s essential to create a playing surface that enhances player performance safely, while also providing a resilient surface that stands up throughout the season.
When you invest in a new turf surface, you need certainty. AusGAP accreditation means all our soccer turf meets strict standards for purity, quality, and sustainability. This means you get more than just different types of grass; you get genetically pure turf, guaranteeing the consistent playing surface and resilience essential for a top-quality soccer pitch that maintains premium playing conditions year after year.
Consider us part of your grounds team, dedicated to your soccer facility’s success. We ensure your chosen turf arrives fresh and on schedule – no more waiting around for deliveries. But our service doesn’t stop when the turf is laid. We provide ongoing expert advice to help you maintain consistent playing conditions that ensure a great game and spectator experience for young and old.
How does natural turf compare to artificial grass / artificial turf for soccer player safety?
Generally speaking, natural grass is often considered to offer better shock absorption and a cooler playing surface than most synthetic turf surfaces, which can reduce the risk of certain player injuries and heat stress during a soccer game. While modern synthetic turf football fields are improving with advanced materials and manufacturing methods, the natural cushioning and temperature regulation of real grass provide distinct safety benefits for athletes using your sports facility.
Natural turf also regulates temperature better, reducing surface heat during summer matches.
Can high-quality artificial grass products meet "FIFA Quality" standards, and what does that term mean?
“FIFA Quality” and “FIFA Quality Pro” are certifications primarily for artificial turf systems used in soccer. They indicate the manufactured surface has passed specific tests for durability, player safety, ball roll, and overall play performance, aiming to replicate a high-standard natural grass pitch. While farm-grown turf itself isn’t certified this way, elite-level natural turf sets the benchmark these synthetic systems aim to replicate.
Is synthetic grass really lower maintenance than non-fake grass (natural turf) for sports surfaces?
Synthetic grass certainly eliminates mowing, watering, and fertilising, which is why it’s often considered for low-maintenance sports surfaces. However, for active soccer fields, “lower maintenance” doesn’t mean “no maintenance.” To ensure player safety and consistent play performance, synthetic turf requires regular brushing so its manufactured blades remain upright, and grooming to keep infill materials (like sand or rubber) evenly distributed. Cleaning and disinfection are also essential to maintain the material’s natural look. So, while different from caring for natural turf, synthetic turf on sports surfaces needs its own specific upkeep routine to deliver quality play and appearance year-round.
