Meet the Team

The SSL team are proud to combine over 100 years experience working in the niche sports facility industry. Offering a unique blend of industry specific knowledge, team members draw on past experience working for sports facility contractors, consultants & turf manufacturers. This diverse knowledge base provides genuine benefits to our clients. All of our team are fully DBS checked.

Steve Wilcockson

Managing Director

Having been employed within the leisure industry for almost 30 years, Steve founded SSL in 2004. A highly respected figure in the industry, Steve has an expansive knowledge of synthetic sports facility design and construction. Under Steve’s guidance, the company has gone from strength to strength and has been a specialist consultant employed as part of the AGP Framework agreement, responsible for the design and delivery of hundreds of Football Foundation funded projects. As an industry expert, Steve has been engaged to provide seminar presentations regarding the development of synthetic turf sports facilities and is regularly in contact with the major sports governing bodies.

Outside Work…… A former member of the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers, Steve has represented the UK Armed Forces in the Diving Championships in Berlin.

Wesley Bugg

Consultant

Since joining SSL in 2008, Wesley has been an integral part in the success of SSL and maintaining the company’s position as one of the most respected sports facility consultancy’s in the UK. Meticulous to detail, Wesley has worked on a significant volume of sports facility projects. Wesley’s knowledge of CAD design in conjunction with design principles/industry guidelines specific to sports facility construction, continues to benefit a wide range of clients including clubs, schools, universities, local authorities, contractors and major UK sports governing bodies. 

Outside Work…… As a former winter sports instructor, Wesley is a keen snowboarder and Sunday league football player (still retaining aspirations of one day playing for Spurs!)

John Bennett

Consultant

Over the course of 20 successful years in the industry, John has been involved in over 3000 sports facility projects. John has worked alongside major sporting bodies including the US Olympic Committee, FA, RFU, Sport England, England Hockey, Scottish Hockey & Hockey Wales. John has substantial experience in the design, development and construction of synthetic turf pitches (both in the UK and internationally), athletics tracks, multi-use games areas (MUGA’s) and innovative rooftop pitches. Prior to joining SSL, John gained over a decade of experience in project design, cost control and contract management for a major UK pitch contractor and has also been engaged as a facility design advisor to a major UK sports governing body. 

Outside Work…… John has completed the Great North Run on 12 separate occasions, the London Marathon and a 40 mile event in Cumbria, raising thousands of pounds for various charities in the process.

Find out more via John’s LinkedIn profile

Wayne Sexton

Consultant

Wayne has worked within the sports construction industry for over 30 years. Prior to joining SSL in 2021, Wayne has helped to deliver of a wide range of sports facility projects including Commonwealth Games athletics tracks in Manchester, Hampden Park and Alexandria Stadium and football club training ground developments for Aston Villa and Leicester City.  A highly experienced and well respected figure within the industry, Wayne provides extensive construction knowledge and project management skills to supplement the SSL Team.

Outside Work…… Wayne is a keen fisherman and golfer and, away from sport, enjoys fine wine and dining.

Michael Eastman

Design Consultant

Michael is a product of the world renowned Loughborough University sports department having graduated with a degree in Sport Technology. With extensive AutoCAD knowledge, strong mathematical awareness and a keen eye for detail, Michael provides a vital resource and plays a key role as part of the SSL team.

Outside Work…… A talented hockey player, Michael has played as a top flight goalkeeper for both Loughborough and Canterbury, and was an Under 18 National Plate winner in both 2017 & 2018.

Oliver Pennington

Consultant

Oliver is the newest member of the SSL Team. Bringing with him 16 years of experience working as a Planning Officer, Oliver has enhanced SSL’s planning application offering providing vital first-hand knowledge for what is a key aspect of our consultancy. In addition to providing a fresh perspective into the overall planning application process, Oliver has also successfully completed CAD training and so providing further support to the SSL team structure.