NATURAL TURF
certainly the case in a number of pre-
miership rugby clubs and in the divisions
outside the Premiership in football.
The IOG figures estimate that the
sports turf industry has 20,000 in
employment and a further 20,000
who work in a volunteer capacity.
Their loyalty to their club and the work
they put in, especially to combat the ef-
fects of adverse weather conditions prior Protecting the pitch for cricket, rugby league and rugby union at Leeds Carnegie Stadium
to matches, should not be used to un-
dermine the principle that groundsmen A common complaint me to control the amount of moisture
should be adequately rewarded for
from groundsmen is when
in the pitch throughout the year. It
the role they perform, be provided keeps out the heavy downpours and
with the equipment to do their job
executives do not seek,
protects against frost, the pitch is better
and their input sought on all matters
or listen to their advice
and we’ve been able to stage two extra
affecting the playing surface.
which can have serious
events already.”
Losing revenue from postponed match-
Tools for the job consequences on the state es should be a motivating factor driving
Jonathan Smith, a former grounds-
of playing surfaces
chief executives to listen to
man at international venues for cricket, their groundsmen. Producing a wicket
rugby and football, whose company the horse has bolted’ situation rather conducive to good cricket for an Ashes
JMS Cricket now supplies ground care than a pro-active approach.” Test Match, given the vagaries of the UK’s
equipment and materials to amateur However, Smith adds that there are climate at an untried Test Match venue
and professional clubs, says: “The com- notable exceptions, such as the Arsenal was the task of Keith Exton, the new
mon complaint I hear from groundsmen manager, Arsene Wenger, who made head groundsman at the SWALEC Sta-
responsible for pitches at professional the playing surface at The Emirates Sta- dium (formerly Sophia Gardens) in Cardiff.
clubs is when executives do not seek, dium a priority when the new facility Both the immediate and long term
or listen to their advice. This can have was being built and made sure the funds consequences made investment in
serious consequences on the state were available for under pitch heating ground drainage and adequate covers
of the playing surfaces and the recovery Other forward thinking organisations for the pitch itself, the square and the
time required to get it back into shape. include those at the Leeds Carnegie outfield, plus the ancillary equipment
All too often this leads to an ‘after Stadium where head groundsman Ja- needed to deploy it, a priority.
son Booth is expected to produce top The club was well aware of the impor-
class playing surfaces for both the rugby tance of the opening Ashes Test Match
league and rugby union teams. and although Exton was not given an
“The last thing I need is a real down- open cheque book, he says that he has
pour in early autumn because matches been given all the support he felt was
played on waterlogged pitches simply required to make the event a success.
destroy the top surface and there’s This investment in groundstaff sup-
no chance of any real improvement port and the right tools for the job will
through grass growth during the winter repay itself many times over if SWALEC
months,” says Booth. Stadium is awarded more high profile
“With this in mind, I asked the club to cricket matches in the coming years. ●
invest in a pitch protector – to enable Michael Heal is a freelance journalist
We have the best range of equipment on
the market to keep your Natural surface
in tip top condition. Whether it’s routine
maintenance or full scale rejuvenation, our
technical experts can advise you on the
most suitable machine and help you devise
a maintenance regime.
Call 01428 661222 today for
information and a demonstration.
Nat
ura
l
www.charterhouseturfmachinery.co.uk
38 Read Sports Management online
sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009
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