IAN FORSHAW, Head Groundsman at Wigan Athletic Football Club talks to Laurence Gale MSc about the problems caused by dual sports and how he is ...


SPORTING CHANCE ...


Giving the JJB a S


pare a thought for all stadium groundstaff who are now in their most difficult, busiest and worrying time of the year; when pitches are subjected to the most severe test of recovery after matches.


It’s not unusual to hear of clubs having six or seven games within an eighteen day period and a good cup run can add severely to the pressure. And there’s also the training and warm up regimes to contend with!


Short days and unusual weather patterns also affect the extent of work that can be achieved. Air and soil temperatures are consistently low which also has an affect on grass growth and recovery rates after matches. Pitch quality is paramount with regard to its performance and all important


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results, and that doesn’t include the added pressures from owners, managers, players and fans alike. Grass growth and sward


recovery can be, at best, slow or, in many cases, non-existent depending on the type of stadium environment, pitch construction and resources the Groundsman has at his disposal. Lighting rigs, tents, canopies and various under soil heating and air flow systems have helped, but not all clubs can afford such luxuries. Each Groundsman will have his own maintenance regime which is often governed by the type of pitch he has to manage.


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