As a long time partner to Preston North End (and die hard supporters), working at Deepdale on the upgrade of the iconic floodlights was more than another technical project. It was an opportunity to support a local sporting institution, create meaningful experience for the next generation of electrical talent and leave the club with a more efficient, flexible floodlighting system.

Thompsons brought together specialist rope-access teams, qualified electricians and its wider skills pipeline to deliver a demanding upgrade 47.5 metres above the pitch.

Modernising a local landmark

Deepdale’s existing installation comprised 100 HID floodlights across four corner masts. The upgrade needed to reduce equipment and connected load and meet standards for a club with progression in its sights!

Access was a defining part of the job. With the headframes positioned 47.5 metres above ground, every lift, connection and final aiming adjustment called for close coordination between high-access technicians and qualified electricians. Key success measures were to:

• Design around Championship / Football League lighting requirements.
• Verify the existing headframes could accommodate 15 larger, heavier LED luminaires per mast.
• Position and aim every fitting accurately across a complex stadium environment.
• Integrate practical match, maintenance and show-lighting controls.

Local expertise at 47.5 metres

The new scheme was built around 60 Signify LED floodlights – 15 on each mast – supported by detailed photometric modelling and a mast-by-mast headframe arrangement.

Preston-based Thompsons coordinated the practical delivery, bringing together local electrical expertise and specialist high-access capability.

HIGH-ACCESS DELIVERY Rope-access specialists worked alongside electricians comfortable operating at height, enabling the fittings to be installed, connected and precisely aimed on all four towers.

Social value built into the project

The strongest local projects create value beyond the finished installation. Established in Preston in 1946, Thompsons has spent generations developing skilled careers in the area. Delivering for Preston North End brought that local commitment together with a club that plays an important role in the identity and economy of the city and built our long term partnership working with the club to improve its facilities, meet compliance requirements and evolve Deepdale into the future

Local delivery: using a Preston-based contractor helps retain employment, technical knowledge and project value within the local economy.

Apprenticeship pathways: Thompsons has delivered apprenticeships for more than 30 years, and apprentices represent around 30% of its workforce.

Learning from experience: apprentices develop their skills alongside qualified electricians, gaining supervised exposure to the planning, controls and technical standards behind complex projects.  Projects like with with the work at height challenges bring enhanced skills and development to the apprentices involved.

Long-term capability: investment in local people helps build the skilled workforce Lancashire will need for future electrical, energy-efficiency and infrastructure projects.

Precise installation, connection and aiming

At mast level, the installation team followed the planned headframe layouts and aiming data for each of the 60 luminaires. The work demanded more than physical access: the electrical connections, DMX data network and final optical alignment all had to come together as one coordinated system.

Specialist aiming equipment supported the final set-up, helping technicians align each fitting to its calculated target while working on the headframes high above the stadium.

Flexible control for matchday and beyond

The operational interface gives the stadium team straightforward control of the new lighting. Main presets provide 100%, 75%, 50% and 25% output, plus a centre-spot-only scene. A separate eight-button keypad triggers programmed effects for matchday presentation.

Goal, wave, sparkle, opposite-flash, chase, PNE and player walk-out scenes support matchday presentation and enhanced the overall scheme.

Designed for Championship-level performance, capacity for Promtion!

The scheme was designed around Championship requirements, it replaces an ageing HID arrangement with a modern LED and DMX-controlled platform.

Crucially, the club now has a more flexible foundation from which future improvements can be reviewed, modelled and planned – allowing its stadium infrastructure to develop alongside its ambitions on the pitch.

A partnership with lasting value

This project shows what local procurement can achieve when technical quality and social value work together. Preston North End gains a modern floodlighting platform designed around the demands of professional football. Thompsons sustains skilled local employment and creates learning opportunities for the next generation. The wider community benefits from capability, experience and investment staying close to home.