Bill Gordon earns pitch honour
The Oval Groundsman wins ECB’s Groundsman of the Year award
BILL Gordon, the groundsman at The Oval, has won the ECB’s Groundsman of the Year Award in both the four-day and one-day categories. Steve Birks from Trent Bridge was runner-up for four-day pitches and shared the same position with Philip Frost (Taunton) for his one-day surfaces.
Commendations went to Frost, Neil Godrich (Derby), David Measor (The Riverside) and Andy Whiteman (Grace Road) in the four-day pitch category, while Lawrence Gosling (Hove), Sean Williams (Bristol) and Steve Rouse (Edgbaston) were commended in the one-day category.
Bill Gordon
Richard Sula at The Parks, Oxford took the award for UCCE (University Centres of Cricket Excellence) pitches with Craig Thompson at Durham Racecourse named as runner-up. Micky Stewart and Christian Dunkerley were awarded the outgrounds prize for their work at Scarborough with Mark Wakefield from Kidderminster earning the runner-up award.
Steve Birks
“We have seen an excellent overall standard of pitches in both four-day cricket and one-day cricket in 2007,” said Alan Fordham, the ECB head of operations. “We are delighted to announce these awards which recognise head groundsmen who have prepared the best pitches this season, and we also give credit to all groundsmen for their work during what was a particularly difficult season with the weather.”
Scoop for Terryland Park
Noel Connolly collects Irish Groundsman of the Year award
THE Irish Groundsman of the Year Award, sponsored by Scott’s, has been won by Noel Connolly of Terryland Park, the home of Gallway United. Noel was presented with his award at half-time during the FAI Ford Cup final on December 2nd. Noel will also receive €1,000 worth of fertiliser from Scott’s.
The winner of the Groundsman of the Year award was decided after the eircom League of Ireland referee panel helped to shortlist the three best grounds in the eircom League of Ireland.
That shortlisted consisted of Terryland Park (Galway United), United Park (Drogheda United) and Turner’s Cross (Cork City). The Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) then inspected each of the three grounds and awarded Terryland Park first prize, with United Park in second spot and Turner’s Cross third.
Having worked on Terryland Park since 1995, Noel has ensured that the pitch quality is at a consistently high level.
Noel Connolly said: “I am delighted to receive the award. Terryland Park is used 12 months a year - for the eircom League of Ireland in the summer and then junior football in the winter - so the pitch faces different challenges depending on the time of year. While it is obviously important to maintain a high quality playing surface, the general presentation of the ground is also very important, especially with the increased television coverage this season.”
3
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115