“It is a point of honour here that it is just over thirty years since a 1st team match was called off due to the pitch being unplayable. We intend to maintain that
applied and repeated in mid November to take the well established sward through to December. The programme is then changed to 4:0:8/15:0:29 and, from March to the end of the season, reverts to 7:0:14.
In addition to this, the staff also apply high magnesium supplements and a growth promoter when deemed necessary. The club has only suffered two attacks of fusarium in five years, although last season they had to spray for leaf spot ten times. The only other pesticide application is two ‘insurance sprays’ for leatherjackets in the autumn. Lee Jackson says, “It is a point of
honour here that it is just over thirty years since a 1st team match was called off due to the pitch being unplayable. We intend to maintain that tradition!” The club has recently invested around £250,000 in four large and two small Stadium Grow Lighting rig made by Dutch Company SGL B.V. This enables regular overseeding to take place all season under ideal germination conditions. Besides Roy Rigby and Lee Jackson
there are a further seven groundstaff, including Gary Conway who assists Roy and Lee at the stadium and Steve Malone, Head Groundsman of the
tradition!” Lee Jackson, Deputy Head Groundsman
Carrington 1st and reserve team training ground. Adjacent to the main stadium is the 6,000 seat City of Manchester athletics stadium where the reserve team plays. Platt Lane is home to the Manchester City FC Academy. It was a joy for me to meet the
groundstaff at Manchester City FC and the day was made all the more interesting by witnessing the sheer enthusiasm and ability, coupled with a genuine desire and willingness to do their absolute best for the club. My sincere thanks to Manchester City FC for their kind hospitality during my visit.
The Man City groundstaff have built quite a reputation with their pitch patterns even drawing praise from TV ‘experts’ such as Mark Lawrensen
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Gary Conway completes the team that looks after the main stadium pitch
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