Newcastle United FC
Eddie Rutherford
Craig Richardson Bristol City FC
odd, normally moaning, referee has noticed the difference!!!”
“Last season we had forty games,
The STRI consider that Fibrelastic turf definitely represents a further step forward in natural turf sports surfaces
Bristol City’s Craig Richardson said
“The club wanted to be able to host rugby matches without compromising the quality of the playing surface and were looking at the best products available to accomplish that. This is when we were first made aware of elasticated fibre rootzone, and went to look at the trial plots at the STRI in Bingley. Having seen the plots and read the report we decided we would go ahead and install the
product, the main attraction being the added traction with a reduction in surface hardness.” “The pitch maintenance is very similar to a normal fibre pitch, with maybe not as much need to spike or vertidrain as the surface doesn’t feel as hard. All of the feedback from players and coaches of both the opposition and our own team has been very positive, all pointing out the pitch seems a lot softer. Even the
What are you like?
Rob Bradshaw, Head Groundsman at St Neots Town Football Club - one good ‘turner’ deserves a favour!
Who are you? Rob Bradshaw Status? Currently single.
Who’s your hero and why? My dad, as he has supported me all the way. He followed me everywhere when I played county bowls up and down the country. He has given me huge support towards reaching my ambition as a groundsman and, I hope, he will be be there for many years to come. He is my best mate. You only get one dad. My football hero would be Gazza, he was a great footballer and people reckon I look like him - without the talent!
What is your dream holiday? I’d like to go to Australia as I like the sun and it would be great to see how groundsmen adapt to the conditions.
What annoys you the most? My brother Josh! He’s a pain. He is just reaching his 13th birthday and, if you were blindfolded, you would think he was 60, he’s like an old man. But, hey, he helps me on my football pitch and, yes, I do pay him.
What would you change about yourself? Have more confidence in myself.
Who wouldn't you like to be? A football manager. You never know if you are going to keep your job. You can do as much hard work as you like but, if you haven’t got the resources and budget and a few results don’t go your way,
you are shown the door. Nothing is safe in football.
Who would you choose to spend a romantic evening with? Lacey Turner (Stacey Slater out of Eastenders) she looks a stunner. I’m sure she’s good in all departments.
If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do? Well I don’t have any credit cards or debts so that’s a good thing. I would give my dad a wedge of cash and I’d pay for my mum and brother to go on a nice holiday as she had a stroke early on in the year and a break would do her good. I’m not fussy about a nice car, my Renault Laguna does me proud. I would also donate some money to the local special care baby unit at Hinchingbrooke Hospital.
If you were to describe yourself as a musical instrument, what would you be? I would have to be a guiter as I’m loud but sometimes with a soft touch on a low note.
What’s the best advice you have ever been given? Loads from many people in the industry, but I’d single out Dave Roberts at Charterhouse School (formerly at Southampton Football Club) and Dave Goodjohn of GSB Loams Loams who both told me to be patient, keep producing quality work and one day you will get spotted. You have to start at the grass roots of football and work your way up the ladder.
What’s your favourite smell? Garlic, a lovely textured smell. The problem is it scares the ladies away!
What three words would you use to describe yourself? Funny, cheeky, understanding.
What talent would you like to have? The skills to be a top class groundsman.
What makes you angry? When you spend hours producing a quality pitch and it takes just 90 minutes to destroy it and players don’t care.
What law/legislation would you like to see introduced? One for the FA lawmakers. Footballers should only be allowed to wear round studs not these fancy blades that rip the surface to shreads.
twenty-two training sessions, one rugby game and a pop concert. We kept good grass cover, the pitch played well and both the board and the manager were happy with the performance of the new pitch.”
A further pitch installation is currently taking place at the completely new stadium at Llanelli Rugby Union Football Club. It will give rugby players the opportunity of experiencing a fast, firm, mud-free surface typical of modern day fibre-reinforced, sand-dominant pitches but hopefully with a softer landing! Pitchcare will continue to monitor the feedback on this new surface and it will be interesting to hear, and report on, the views of the rugby players and the groundstaff.
Rangers images ©Lynne Cameron/Rangers FC
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