“With the club failing to get back into the premiership budgets have been cut back dramatically, leaving us only enough money to
and was provided by Barclays Spaces for Sport Aid in 2006. Paul takes up the story.
“With over 1200 sessions/games completed between July 2007 and May 2008, plus the fact that the grounds are in use seven days a week, it is not surprising they suffer from a fair deal of wear and tear throughout the year. Compaction and soil pans develop within the soil profile, this problem is exacerbated during the winter period when rainfall rates exceed the infiltration rate of the soil.
Our aim, of course, is to prepare safe, level playing surfaces, which can be difficult with inappropriate soil conditions.
Utilising different forms of aeration
throughout the year is critical in terms of management of these on-going challenges. Developing technology has seen the introduction of the Gwazae, a tractor-drawn air-injection system that we trialled at the ground. This machine is
capable of injecting 150psi to a depth of 710mm to break-up compacted soil layers.
I was impressed with the concept and would like to consider the use of the machine to alleviate the surface water ponding problems we usually have during the winter period on the heavier soil pitches. However, working this into a restrictive budget could prove difficult. We aerate on a two to three week cycle using solid, needles, slit, hollows and linear tines. It is critical to keep the profile open as much as possible to reduce surface water, encourage root development and combat drought stress in summer.
Seed rates were increased last year from 35g/m2 up to 50g/m2
. This has been
particularly successful and has reduced the amount of repair work and settlement required following use. This will continue, funds permitting. Turfgrass selection is vitally important to the visual appearance and the playing
performance of the turf. We are constantly reviewing the grass seed variety league tables in the Turf Seed booklet produced by the STRI. I’m not adverse to trialling products however, in the main I tend to use a combination of Perennial Ryegrasses (Lolium perenne) except for designated warm-up areas where we are trialing Rhizomatous Tall Fescue (RTF). I think this could prove extremely beneficial for future renovations due to its ability to withstand drought and waterlogging through its extensive root system. Recognising that plant establishment is difficult within a sand-slit drainage system makes RTF a consideration. Budgets for end of season renovations
are always a contentious issue, we all want more money to invest in the pitches. However, with the club failing to get back into the premiership budgets have been cut back dramatically, leaving us with only enough money to do the bare minimum end of season
do the bare minimum” Paul Geary, Head Groundsman, Charlton Athletic Training Ground
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