39 Pitch Articles:Layout 1 15/5/09 16:33 Page 1
PITCH MANAGEMENT
IMPROVED GRASS COVER
AT MANCHESTER CITY PITCH, THANKS TO BARENBRUG’S BAR 50 SOS
Manchester City Football Club has credited Barenbrug’s BAR 50
SOS with improving grass coverage at its main stadium pitch.
From left are Manchester City FC’s assistant groundsman Gary Conway,
T
he Premier League club tried the head groundsman Roy Rigby and deputy head groundsman Lee Jackson.
rapid turf repair mixture as part of
its winter repairs programme after
the poor weather took its toll on the pitch. As
deputy head groundsman Lee Jackson
explains: “The pitch has been through a lot -
an even harsher winter than usual and last
summer wasn’t great either - so we tried BAR
50 SOS and we’ve been really impressed.”
Bred by Barenbrug Research specifically for
its cool soil temperature germination and quick
and superior establishment, BAR 50 SOS is ideal
for football pitch mid-season renovation
programmes where temperature is the decisive
factor. Central to the blend’s success is the
inclusion of 4IR-1 annual ryegrass, which
germinated in temperatures as low as three
degrees centigrade in trials.
Sure enough, the mixture produced the
performance results Lee was looking for in spite
of the low temperatures at the time of sowing.
grass cover than we had last year and are For further information on BAR 50 SOS, call
“We’ve achieved improved grass coverage
getting a lot more use out of the pitch too this Barenbrug on 01359 272000 or email
across the whole pitch that’s worn well, so the
season due to our involvement in the UEFA info@baruk.co.uk to request a free product leaflet.
seed certainly did the job,” he continues.
Cup. Both myself and head groundsman Roy Alternatively, the leaflet can be downloaded from
“In fact, we’ve got a far higher percentage of
Rigby are very pleased with the results.”
FSA
www.barenbrug.co.uk.
COLCHESTER UNITED CHOOSES TORO TDC IRRIGATION
W
hen Colchester United Football
Colchester United’s Dave Blacknall, left, with Lely’s Roger Lupton.
Club moved from its former
home at Layer Road to the
Weston Homes Community Stadium at the
start of the 2008-09 season, it selected a Toro
TDC Turf Decoder Controller irrigation
system to ensure the rapid establishment of
its new pitch.
Comprising fifteen 690 Series sprinklers
managed by Toro’s TDC controller, LS Systems
installed the system on the newly constructed
pitch at the 10,000-capacity stadium in summer
2008. But with the new football season fast
approaching, the pressure to prep the pitch
was on.
“Because this was a new-build, we worked
to a tight schedule to get the system up and
running so the pitch would be established in
time,” recalls LS Systems project director Tim
Griffiths. “The club needed simple but robust
and reliable irrigation, and so the Toro system
was ideal.”
Eliminating the costs associated with As he explains: “We went from seeding to
traditional valve wire bundles, Toro’s TDC play in just seven weeks, which is very good. Toro Irrigation products are distributed throughout
system provides wide and flexible sprinkler Even though there was quite a bit of rain, we mainland UK by Lely UK Limited. Call 01480
coverage ideally suited to large installations wouldn’t have achieved that without the 226858, email irrigation.uk@lely.com or visit
and sports grounds, such as Colchester’s pitch. irrigation. The grounds are now in excellent www.toro.com/www.lely.com for further details.
The League One club’s head groundsman, condition and we’re very happy with the Toro Irrigation products are distributed in Ireland
Dave Blacknall, agrees that the system system - it does exactly what it says on the by Lely Ireland Limited. Call 00 353 (0)45 526170
delivered the rapid establishment required. tin.”
FSA
for further details.
May/June 2009 | FOOTBALL & SPORTS ARENA | 39
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