Oldham Athletic FC Tony Owen - Head Groundsman
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hand when required.” His general schedule post match involves divoting and then a light mow with the club’s Ransomes Mastiffs or Dennis G860’s, giving a light roll in the process - enough to level the surface back down. Winter often calls for frost protection and, given the height of the ground, it is generally required during November to February. Frost sheets are used, and pegged as required. If rain is forecast, the ground is often left free as moisture helps to keep the structure of the Desso intact.
So, what challenges face groundsmen in future years? Maintaining a pitch in the shadow of the main stand is something Tony has to deal with, and in the short winter days, lack of sunlight can be the enemy - Boundary Park does not have it in abundance. Grass growth is limited in the winter, a severe limit on exposure on a third of the pitch does lead to problems, with the ryegrass not taking hold and Poa annua becoming more of an issue. “Each stadium has its own microclimate - they all have different elevations and face different directions, so light is always an issue. I think development of new ryegrass varieties with less light dependency but with enhanced durability may well be the next new idea in this industry, unless the price of light rigs is more affordable” Tony explains. “Progressive clubs like Arsenal and Steve Braddock (their Head Groundsman) have looked at the
issues and purchased rigs to counteract their problem at the Emirates Stadium, but we cannot afford this scenario at present. When they become more affordable then we will be able to resolve our light issue more easily.” Another aspect that raised its head
recently was the advent of 3G (third generation) synthetic pitches. Oldham were the forerunners in the 1980s with a ‘plastic pitch’ along with Preston, Luton and QPR. These proved unpopular and were deemed dangerous by players and managers, but Tony identifies the new pitches as progression: “Ten year old kids who are playing on them now will be used to the surface and how it plays so, when they become professionals in ten years time, they will be more adaptable. At present, these pitches are suitable for training as they are playable in virtually all weathers.” He does identify, however, that they would be more suited to Division 1 or 2 clubs, although cost is still a massive issue. Upon stepping into the shadow of the main stand at Oldham, one feels that there is a club bursting to explode back to the heady heights of their Premiership days some ten years ago. However, with competition for fans extending to the greater Manchester area to the west and north to Bolton and Blackburn, filling this stadium is not easy. Achieving good football means providing a good pitch, and Tony Owen manages this with a small team working
on a limited budget.
As this is written, the club sit in the top six of Division 1, in hope of reaching the Championship and the revenue that it can bring. Plans are afoot to rebuild three of the four stands, including the light restricting main stand, with scope for offices, hotel and new housing built into these proposals. If these come to fruition Oldham’s pitch is likely to be maintained to an even higher level than the one Tony currently provides. Counteracting his Poa annua problem
by a regular maintenance schedule allows him to keep on top of it, and removing organic matter keeps the life of the Desso pitch to its maximum. He proves that, even on a limited budget with limited staff, a groundsman can keep a pitch to a very good standard even during the winter months.
Primary machinery list
Ferrari 30-4 30hp tractor and loader Ferrari 18-3 18hp tractor MC10 Multicore tractor mounted 1.0m Dennis G860 34” mower (2) Ransomes Mastiff 36” mower (2) Toro 216-D Triple mower Dabro top dresser Mixture of manual and Fleet markers
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