Pitch Perimeter Fencing FAQs

A PVCu pitch perimeter barrier system for football, rugby union and rugby league grounds. It uses 127 × 127mm PVCu posts at 2,500mm centres with three rails per bay, and is available in three variants: double mesh, single mesh and post & rail. The only difference between them is the infill.

Double mesh has welded mesh infill above and below the middle rail, closing both gaps so the ball cannot pass through or roll under. Single mesh has infill in one section only. Post & rail has no mesh at all — three rails forming a clear boundary. All three share the same posts, rails and finish.

127 × 127mm PVCu, supplied at 1,800mm length. 600mm sits below ground and 1,200mm above, giving a barrier height of 1.1m to the top of the top rail with the post cap standing proud of that line.

1.1m measured to the top of the top rail from the spectator side. The post itself stands 1,200mm above ground. The 1.1m figure is the one a ground grading inspector measures and the one the FA criteria refer to.

Unplasticised PVC (PVCu) throughout — not steel, and not PVC-coated steel. The mesh infill panels are welded steel, white powder-coated to match. That combination is deliberate: the steel does the ball containment, the PVCu takes the impact if a player hits it.

Bright white throughout — posts, rails and mesh infill. The colour runs through the PVCu rather than sitting on the surface, so it does not fade, yellow or discolour, and there is nothing to chip or scratch off. Independent UV weathering to ASTM G154 returned a colour change of ΔE 0.70 after 1,000 hours.

Welded steel mesh, white powder-coated, with a hole size of 155 × 75mm. Panels slot into pre-drilled holes in the rails and clip into position without additional fixings.

Yes, and you should. We recommend two 3.0m double gates for machinery and emergency vehicle access and two 1.5m single gates for players and officials as standard on a full pitch. A single gate module is 2,024mm overall with a 1,643mm clear opening; a double is 3,637mm overall with 3,256mm clear. All gate hardware is Grade 304 stainless steel. Note that gate widths are deducted from your total fence run, not added to it.

Often, but check first. The foundation is a 300mm diameter hole at 750mm deep, which on an AGP means going through the carpet, shockpad and sub-base. That can affect drainage layers and may have implications for your surface warranty. Confirm the build-up with your AGP contractor or warranty provider before ordering and tell us what they say.

No, and neither is anyone else's. The FA operates no approval, endorsement or certification scheme for fencing products, and the Premier League Stadium Fund states explicitly that it holds no preferred supplier list. What we can say is that our system is specified to meet the FA ground grading criteria for pitch perimeter barriers. If a supplier tells you their product is FA approved, ask them to show you the scheme. See our ground grading guide.

At Steps 1–4, a permanent infilled barrier that prevents the ball passing through or under it. At Steps 5–6, a permanent fixed barrier with infill strongly recommended. At Step 7, post and rope is the absolute minimum. The criteria describe a barrier, not a product — they do not name double mesh or any manufacturer. Full detail on our FA ground grading page.

An infilled barrier is required at Steps 1–4. Double mesh is the standard way to meet that requirement because it closes both the between-rail and under-rail gaps by design, which is why it is installed at most Step 1–4 grounds. But the requirement is for infill, not for a particular product.

No. The FA's 2026/27 Stadium Accreditation Criteria prohibit solid brick, breeze block and concrete pitch perimeter barriers across Steps 1–6 of the men's National League System and Tiers 3–4 of the Women's National League. Around 900 clubs are affected. Condition is not the test — a sound, well-maintained wall still fails. The Premier League Stadium Fund will contribute up to 100% of the cost of removing or protecting one. See the funding guide.

Not at Steps 1–4. The FA criteria state that plastic multi-purpose hi-vis fencing is not considered suitable as infill at those steps. Clubs using orange or yellow plastic mesh will need to replace it before their next inspection.

For football: 2,250mm minimum at Step 1 (ideally 2,750mm), 1,830mm at Steps 2–7, all measured from the edge of the playing surface rather than the painted line. We recommend 2,250mm at every level so the barrier never needs moving on promotion. For rugby union it is considerably further — World Rugby Law 1 requires a perimeter area of 5m where practicable and never less than 3.5m men's or 3.0m women's. Do not use a football setback on a rugby ground. See our rugby union page.

No. Neither governing body operates an approval or certification scheme for perimeter fencing, and no supplier is RFU or RFL approved. The Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds is guidance, not a certification scheme — nothing is "approved under the Green Guide" either. Our system is specified to meet the relevant guidance. See our rugby union and rugby league pages.

At 1.1m barrier height, planning permission is generally not required in England under permitted development rights, which broadly cover fences up to 2m away from a highway. Always confirm with your local planning authority in writing before installation and keep the confirmation — some funders require evidence of it before approving a grant.

If specified correctly for your step, yes. The most common failures are the wrong setback, missing or unacceptable infill at Steps 1–4, incomplete perimeter coverage, a gap between the barrier and the spectator hardstanding, and now solid brick or concrete barriers. We provide a specification document setting out exactly what we propose, which you can put in front of an inspector. See five reasons clubs fail.

Supply only, ex VAT: double mesh £59/m, single mesh £54/m, post & rail £49/m. Supplied and installed: £91/m, £84/m and £77/m respectively. Gates and delivery are itemised separately. Full breakdown in our 2026 price guide.

A standard 105 × 68m pitch at our recommended 2,250mm setback gives a gross perimeter of 364m, or 353m of fencing once gate modules are deducted. Double mesh supplied and installed with two double gates, two single gates and delivery comes to £35,623 ex VAT. Single mesh is about £2,470 less, post & rail about £4,940 less.

More than a football pitch, because of the wider run-off and the in-goal areas. A full-size rugby union ground with 10m in-goals at a 5m Law 1 perimeter needs around 409m of fencing against 353m for football — roughly £5,100 more at supply-and-install rates. Use the calculator on our rugby union page for your ground.

A 1.5m single gate is £500 and a 3.0m double gate is £1,000, both ex VAT. They are itemised separately on every quote and never folded into the per-metre rate.

No. Every price we publish is ex VAT. VAT is added at the prevailing rate on your quotation and invoice.

We do not operate a formal price match, but our supply-only rate sits below Duralock's reseller trade price of £59.80/m and around 14% below their retail list price. If you have a comparable written quote, send it over and we will tell you honestly how we compare — including if we do not.

There is no formal minimum, but delivery is charged at a flat £500 regardless of order size, so very small orders are not economical. For repairs, extensions or replacement sections, contact us and we will advise the most sensible approach.

Yes. Supply only is designed for clubs with a competent groundsman or capable volunteer team. No welding, no specialist equipment beyond a post hole borer, and every supply-only order includes a printed installation guide with phone support throughout. Full method on our installation guide.

For a standard 353m football perimeter with a team of four and a mechanical auger: holes and posts on day one, a 24-hour concrete cure on day two, rails, mesh and gates on day three. Three days elapsed, which fits a long weekend. A rugby ground takes longer because there is more of it.

The hole is 300mm diameter and 750mm deep. A 150mm concrete base goes in the bottom, the post stands on it at 600mm embedment, the concrete surround is filled to 150mm below ground level, and the top 150mm is backfilled with soil once cured for a clean grass finish.

Approximately 85kg per post — four to five 20kg bags. On a standard 353m football perimeter of about 141 posts that is close to 12 tonnes, or around 600 bags. Order on a per-post basis and check the arithmetic before delivery day.

Essential: post hole borer or auger, cement mixer, 50m+ measuring tape, plumb line or spirit level, string line and stakes, hand or mitre saw, cordless drill, and PPE. Advised: a 10mm spacer for setting expansion gaps consistently, a cable detector, wheelbarrow and knee pads. Full list on the installation guide.

Yes. Our supply & install service runs through our vetted contractor network across the North of England and is expanding. You receive a fully installed, compliant perimeter barrier with nothing for you to manage. Installation adds £28–£32 per metre depending on the system. If your ground is outside that area, tell us where you are — we will either confirm we can reach you or supply the product for your own contractor.

Yes, though most clubs prefer the close season. Installation needs the pitch perimeter accessible for three days including a concrete cure. We can phase the work side by side if the pitch is in use, which takes longer but keeps you playing.

For football clubs at Steps 1–6 and Women's Tiers 1–4, the Premier League Stadium Fund contributes 70% of the cost of a new pitch perimeter barrier, rising to up to 100% where an existing solid brick, breeze block or concrete barrier must be removed or protected. It holds no preferred supplier list. Full funding guide.

Not for a pitch perimeter barrier. Pitch perimeter barriers are on the Foundation's explicit "cannot fund" list, and clubs at Steps 1–6 or Women's Tiers 1–4 cannot apply to the Foundation at all. Its fencing grant — up to 75% and a maximum of £25,000 — covers boundary and security fencing at non-NLS sites, which is a different fence doing a different job. See our comparison of the two funds.

There is no national grant route for a pitch perimeter barrier at Step 7 or below. The Stadium Fund does not fund work to meet Grade 7 and the Foundation cannot fund barriers at all. County FA capital funds and local authority schemes are the remaining options, and your County FA facilities officer is the right first call. Some clubs phase the work one side per season instead.

Not the football routes — the Premier League Stadium Fund and the Football Foundation are both football-only. Rugby union clubs should look at RFU grant schemes via their Constituent Body, the RFU Grant Finder and Sport England. Rugby league clubs should look at Sport England, National Lottery Awards for All and RFL Community Game Services.

We provide the specification document, marked-up site plan, itemised quote and schedule of works your application needs, free of charge and within 24 hours. To be clear about our role: we supply the paperwork and the product. We do not secure funding and have no influence over any funding decision.

No, and this is the most expensive mistake clubs make. Work carried out before a grant is approved will not be paid for, and retrospective applications are not accepted. Place your order once the offer letter is in hand and not before.

Yes, we deliver across the UK. Delivery is charged at a flat £500 ex VAT per load with Moffett off-load, itemised separately on your quote. It is never included in the per-metre rate. Note that supply is UK-wide but our installation service currently covers the North of England.

On pallets by lorry with a Moffett forklift for off-loading, which means we can place the pallets where you need them rather than leaving them at the gate. You will need reasonable vehicle access to the site and a firm area to unload onto.

Supply-only orders typically dispatch within 10–15 working days. Supply & install lead times vary by region and season. Contact us for current availability, and allow a minimum of 12 weeks from first enquiry to a finished fence if you are working to a grading deadline.

A 15-year product warranty, one of the longest in the sector. It covers manufacturing defects and material failure, and is valid when the system is installed using genuine Norvale Sport components throughout.

Accidental damage, vandalism, misuse, and installation not carried out to our published method. Substituting third-party components voids it. Normal weathering is covered — the product should not fade, yellow or discolour within the warranty period.

Yes. Independent testing covers UV resistance, high temperature performance and low temperature performance, alongside a factory quality audit. UV weathering to ASTM G154 returned a colour change of ΔE 0.70 after 1,000 hours. These are test reports rather than a product certification — no certification scheme exists for pitch perimeter fencing — and they are available on request and supplied as standard with any grant application pack.

No. There is no painting, staining, rust treatment or timber replacement. An occasional wash keeps it looking new. That is the main whole-life cost advantage over timber and coated steel.

Norvale Sport is a trading name of The Outdoor Look Limited, a UK company registered in England and Wales, supplying PVCu sports pitch perimeter fencing to football, rugby union and rugby league clubs, schools, academies and leisure facilities.

We are the UK supplier. The system is manufactured to our specification at an independently audited factory, and we hold the specification, test reports and warranty. That means you deal with one party for product, documentation and warranty claims.

Send us your pitch dimensions, sport and step or level, and whether you want supply only or supply and install. We respond within 24 hours with a detailed quote and a full specification document. Request a free quote or call 01282 526428.

Yes. School pitches and leisure facilities are not subject to FA ground grading, so the specification is driven by your own requirements rather than someone else's criteria — which often means single mesh or post & rail is the right answer rather than full double mesh. We provide the documentation a capital funding submission or procurement process needs.