Wear in the goalmouths has been significantly different with one retaining more grass cover than the other
at nearby Sundorne but helps Richard out as and when required. Also involved, on a volunteer basis, is Ken Spiby, the former Head Groundsman at Shrewsbury School, who brings his forty plus years of experience with him most mornings. When Richard joined
Shrewsbury Town the equipment was pretty
basic - a diesel powered Dennis 36” cylinder mower and a battered Kombi line marker. Since then he has added an Allett 36” mower that has been modified to run on diesel, and Campey Turfcare supplied a Cushman belt driven topdresser/spreader and a Charterhouse Verti-Drain machine.
During the summer months the pitch is generally mown three times a week but, during periods of strong growth, it gets a daily trim. Using the Dennis set at 25mm the cutting usually takes about three and half hours to complete.
Richard also dragmats or brushes the pitch regularly to help stand the grass up and help disperse any early morning dew. Fertiliser is applied every 18-
21 days starting with a 20:10:10 NPK to flush up the grass after the winter period and then a regular dressing of 9:7:7 NPK during the growing season. The feeding programme changes to a 6:0:12 NPK in the winter. During the winter months the pitch is verti-drained twice a month. Using 12mm tines this operation takes between 8-10 hours to complete and is carried out as soon after a game as possible, allowing plenty of time for the resettlement of the pitch prior to the next game. Watering is a key factor in ensuring the pitch remains stable. It generally takes three hours to water the pitch using the pop up system. The only disease problem they
have had at the ground has been a spate of Red Thread and that was easily overcome with a dose of feed. Rabbits have also been causing damage in the goalmouths. Wear in the goalmouths has been significantly different, with one retaining more grass cover
To advertise in this section contact Classifieds
Peter Britton on 01747 855335 email:
peter@pitchcare.com
SPORTS TURF CONTRACTORS Sports Turf
Contracting Ltd Call us now for the best pitch renovation prices in 2008!
07980 604430 Free site visit and free advice from qualified agronomist
than the other. Richard accepts that the poorer goalmouth
remains in shade longer which, therefore, affects soil and air temperatures within the stadium and subsequent recovery. He also
understands that it will take a few years to get to know more about the ground and how it performs.
Richard marks out for every game with a Kombi spray jet marker using Pitchmarker C. Post match activity sees the divots and scars put back as quickly as possible and then it’s back to the routine maintenance regime of cutting, feeding and watering, planning ahead for the next series of fixtures. With three teams, and many more local sides queuing up to use the new stadium, the new pitch had to cope with over fifty games in its first season. This continued well past the end of their normal league season with the ground hosting school finals and Shropshire FA games. The club run a pay to play scheme (20 games) that earns them £1000 per game. A nice earner for the club, and Richard is hoping that much of this income will be invested back into the pitch.
End of season renovations is
restricted by budget and there is just too little in the coffers to allow for fraise mowing. So, Richard and his team had to undertake most of the work themselves - cleaning out the sward, verti-draining, topdressing and overseeding.
All in all it has been a very successful first season for Shrewsbury Town’s new stadium with increased crowds and a significantly better playing surface for the team to play on. And, to top it all, Richard won League Division 2 Groundsman of the Year.
Sportsfield Construction Drainage Schemes Renovations & Improvements Cricket Specialists
Tel: 01529 455757 Fax: 01529 455775 e-mail:
steve@stevenpask.co.uk
www.stevenpask.co.uk
DRAINING 25 years experience in sports turf aeration
WORTH
Consultancy, Management & Renovation of Sports Surfaces
Winter Pitch renovation BLEC Groundbreaker and Sandmaster attachment Koro Field Topmaker
Midlands & North Wales
Mobile: 07779 333010 Tel: 01889 567449
www.vitalturfmanagement.co.uk Email:
lee@vitalturfmanagement.co.uk
Advertising in the classified section of Pitchcare costs as little as £200 a year
Overseeding - Sanding Top Dressing Hollow Coring
Tel/Fax 01476 550266 Mobile: 07855 431119/20
email:
bloodworth@onetel.com www.worth-d
draining.com Blec Groundbreaker Verti draining
SPORTS TURF CONSULTANTS
Total Turf Solutions One resource for all your turf care needs
The tts culture is based on its independence.
tts embodies a new generation of turf consultants combining experienced and practical groundsmen with in-depth technical knowledge.
For more information on how tts can improve your playing surfaces and contribute effective resource management to your organisation, don’t hesitate to call.
Telephone: 01604 750555 Mobile: 07973 885 775 Website:
www.totalturfsolutions.co.uk email:
enquiry@totalturfsolutions.co.uk
To subscribe to pitchcare magazine log on to
www.pitchcare.com or by telephone to 01902 440 252
101
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