Founded in 1895, Oldham Athletic A.F.C. is a historic football club based in Lancashire, currently competing in EFL League Two. With a passionate fanbase and strong community ties, the club entered a new chapter in 2022 following a major management restructure and change of ownership, which secured full, undisputed use of their home ground, Boundary Park.
With support from Oldham Council, significant investment was made to modernise the stadium infrastructure, including upgrades to the pitch, spectator stands, and associated facilities. As part of this redevelopment, Kellwood Lighting was appointed to design and supply a bespoke pitch lighting solution that meets the requirements of EFL League Two football, while also accommodating Second Tier Rugby League fixtures hosted by Oldham R.L.F.C.
Relatively common and unusual requirements needed to be considered:
High Lux Levels – A bespoke lighting solution was designed and supplied to meet the EFL’s minimum illumination standard of 300 Lux across the pitch.
Utilisation of Existing Infrastructure – The system was engineered to work with the existing four 30m masts, each offering 11 connection points. This approach maximised the use of available infrastructure, significantly reducing the need for extensive re-wiring and minimising installation costs.
Stand Renovations Impact – During the lighting installation, one of the main spectator stands was replaced with a higher-capacity structure. This new stand partially obstructed the beam spread from several newly installed luminaires, necessitating the repositioning of certain fittings and the addition of supplementary stand-mounted lighting.
Residential Considerations – With the club situated near residential properties, the design process carefully accounted for potential obtrusive light spill. Measures were implemented to mitigate light pollution and ensure compliance with local environmental standards, minimising impact on neighbouring dwellings.
Design Process
Design Approach – Kellwood Lighting’s solution leveraged the existing four-mast infrastructure, with careful consideration given to the fact that one mast had previously been upgraded to LED. Using advanced CAD software, a detailed model of the pitch and surrounding environment was developed based on the site information provided.
Simulation & Product Selection – Lighting simulations confirmed that 1200W Ashcroft Series Sports Floodlights would meet the required lux levels, uniformity, and glare control standards. The design also successfully addressed the challenges posed by the asymmetric placement of the masts, which was influenced by adjacent building structures.
| Parameter | Average Lux (Eav) | Uniformity (U0) | Glare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Target | >500 lux | >0.7 | <55 |
| Design Level | 545 lux | 0.70 | <54 |
post-installation survey
Post-Installation Verification – Upon completion of the installation, Kellwood conducted a comprehensive lux level survey to verify compliance with EFL illumination standards and ensure the lighting performance aligned with the design specifications. The survey was carried out across 88 measurement points at 10-metre intervals.
Issue Identification & Resolution – The initial readings revealed a minor reduction in lux levels near the touchline, attributed to shadowing caused by the recently upgraded stand. To rectify this, additional stand-mounted lighting was installed, successfully restoring illumination levels and ensuring full compliance with EFL requirements.
ashcroft Series
sports floodlight
ashcroft Series
sports floodlight
ashcroft Series
sports floodlight
ashcroft Series
sports floodlight
ashcroft Series
sports floodlight
forecast energy
reduction
≥43%
Our lights are used by
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- P. Nisbet, Wabtec Corporation
a project that was well planned and promptly accomplished
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Where others let us down, Kellwood did not
W. Coley, Barking Abbey School
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