Sports Labs

The Sports Labs Story: Not just leaders & Experts

Always ahead & involved

We’re not just in it for the trophies

We want people to play in a safe environment on the highest-quality sport surfaces.

We will use our experience and innovative technologies to continue to strive towards this goal.

This is done with the highest levels of integrity, using our expertise to ensure our clients and the players using the surfaces will benefit from sharing their journeys with us. 

Meet your team of experts

The Professionals in Testing Technology for sports

Eric O’Donnell

Managing Director

Richard Nixon
Technical Director
Niall MacPhee
Director
Keith MacPherson
Technical Director
Sean Ramsay
Associate Director

Craig Melrose

Laboratory Manager

Jamie Archibald

Laboratory Technician

Alix Wright

Junior Laboratory Technician

Emma Steyn

Laboratory Co-ordinator

Katy Bossenbroek

Technical Administrator

Jason Halliday

Senior Laboratory Technician

Jason Quigley

Senior Laboratory Technician

Ewan Nixon

Senior Laboratory Technician

Lewis Kirk

Laboratory Technician

George Wood

Senior Laboratory Technician

Adam Metcalfe

Laboratory Technician

Phil Martin

Project Engineer

Calum Hirst

Project Engineer

David Dickinson

Consulting Manager

Graeme Stewart

Consultancy Operations Manager

Finlay Taggart

Research Student with Cardiff University

Tom Chilvers

Innovation & Development in France

John McLuckie

Innovation & Development Manager

Kyle Paterson

Innovation & Development Engineer

Kerr Lambert

Innovation & Development Engineer

Maxwell MacFarlane

Innovation & Development Engineer

Joe Hobson

Framework Engineer

Jac Jenkinson

Framework Engineer

Nicole Manclark

Senior Office Administrator

Michael Gillespie

Field Test Manager

Ryan Latto

International Field Test Manager

James Cox

Field Technician

Joe Mellor

Field Technician

Lewis McKenzie

Field Technician

Joey Clark

Field Technician

Sam Johnson

Field Technician

Or Shay

Field Technician

Harvey Webb

Field Technician

Craig Hanna

Field Technician

Sports Labs Invests in the Future of our Youths

Sports Labs works closely with local councils and universities to engage youth as early as possible.

We offer tours of our facilities, short-term work assignments, longer-term internships and special joint research projects.

We also reach out to youth through job and education fairs and university internships.

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Staying On Top of Industry Standards is What We do Best.

Throughout the year, we actively seek out opportunities to engage in industry-related networking events within our sector.

In every area of our company, we work to keep on top of key issues, including developing technologies and information that can have an impact our clients.

Sports Testing & Certifications

Sports labs is Globally recognised as leading Experts in Testing Technology for Sports

Good people doing good work

Our values help us create safe playing & Working Environments

Integrity

We are honest, open, ethical, and fair. We stick to our word.

Accuracy

We deliver services to the highest level of accuracy possible.

Community

We build and foster communities that reaches into all of our operations internationally.

Versatility

We respond to challenges and client needs with timely and bespoke solutions.

Trust

We aim to be a true form of trust amoung our clients, communities and partnerships.

Effort

We go the extra mile and deliver above your expectations.

Case Studies

Read about our previous projects & findings

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    Frequently Asked QuestionS

    Get clear answers to the most common questions

    What is Sports Labs?

    Sports Labs Ltd is an independent sports technology testing and certification organisation headquartered in Livingston, Scotland. Operating since 1998, it is one of the world’s leading test houses for sports surfaces, equipment, and technology. Sports Labs offers both laboratory-based and field-testing services accredited to national and international standards. It works with governing bodies including FIFA, World Rugby, FIH, ITF, FIBA, and World Athletics, and actively contributes to the development of the testing standards it applies.

    Sports Labs has been operating since 1998. This gives the company over 25 years of experience in sports surface testing, certification, and technology.

    An independent test house operates without commercial ties to the manufacturers, installers, or suppliers of the products it tests. This means results are impartial and objective. Sports Labs has no financial interest in whether a product passes or fails, which is why governing bodies, facility owners, and procurement teams trust its reports.

    Yes. Sports Labs has offices and accredited technicians across the UK (headquarters in Livingston, Scotland, plus Northern Ireland, Burnley, Mansfield, Nuneaton, and Reading), and internationally in the USA, Canada, Italy, France, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, South Africa, and South America. The North American regional headquarters is in Tennessee.

    Sports Labs covers a wide range of sports including football, rugby union, field hockey, tennis, athletics, basketball, cricket, Gaelic games, and handball. If your sport isn’t listed, Sports Labs can still help. Its ISO 17025-accredited laboratory and experienced team can develop bespoke testing protocols for surfaces and technology across virtually any sporting discipline.

    Sports Labs’ purpose is to ensure that people play in a safe environment on the highest-quality sports surfaces. The company pursues this through independent testing, innovation, and the highest levels of integrity. This is so that both clients and the players using the surfaces benefit from the process. Its core values are Integrity, Accuracy, Confidence, Community, Trust, Versatility, and Effort.

    Sports Labs is powered by a multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, agronomists, technicians, and industry specialists with deep expertise in sports surface science. The team operates across global offices and is supported by a network of accredited field technicians. You can meet the UK team at sportslabs.co.uk/about/about-sports-labs/.

    Sports Labs combines over 25 years of experience with one of the broadest accreditation portfolios of any independent test house in the world that covers FIFA, World Rugby, FIH, ITF, FIBA, World Athletics, UKAS ISO 17025, and more. Its independence guarantees impartiality, its global network means it can test anywhere, and its active contribution to standards development means clients benefit from the most current technical expertise in the industry.

    Yes. Sports Labs serves clients across both sectors, from local authorities, schools, and universities building community sports facilities, to professional football clubs, national governing bodies, international tournament organisers, and private developers. Whether the project is a single community pitch or a multi-venue international installation programme, Sports Labs has the accreditations, capacity, and global reach to deliver.