“I didn’t watch the game. I looked at the grass from time to time but that’s all”
certain grounds are coping, those whose grass is good, those whose isn’t. Often, on a Monday we (groundsmen) ring each other up and talk about pitches - our own and others.”
“But, most of the time, we keep to ourselves - just certain ones you’re that friendly with.” In fact, groundsmen from all over the
Football League will be heading for Stoke City’s Britannia Stadium on April 30 for a seminar, finding out what’s new as well as trading ideas and keeping secrets. “If I could make any changes now I would probably ask for a clear plastic roof on the South stand to get more sun through - like they’ve got at Arsenal’s new Emirates Stadium. To be fair, they did move the whole of our Arena about ten degrees to allow more light in. And we also have airflow corridors around the stadium to allow more airflow around the stadium bowl.”
Michael shrugs his shoulders in an air
of resignation. But he’s not complaining. The days when they had a mower or two, rollers and forks are long gone. At this level in soccer it’s much more high tech
and he laughs when he admits to “constantly asking for new and better equipment”.
Do they listen to
his pleas? “Sometimes, sometimes not.” He’s constantly checking there’s no disease on his grass, in case it is stressed or suffering from leaf spot which stunts growth - and then there’s microscopic worm and heat exhaustion.
New laser guided technology means that marking the pitch out is simpler than it used to be.
Managers today want to practice more on the pitch itself and yet have more quality in the surface. But you won’t hear any complaints from this Grounds Manager.
“Chris Coleman is fantastic to work with and leaves all the pitch-related stuff to me. That’s great and how it should be. Makes it so easy.”
It is the ultimate labour of love. And, for those of a certain age and beyond, you might well remember that BBC Match of the Day once made great
play when covering a game at Highfield Road that something was different. Some managers want the grass cut in strips or blocks. But Michael Finch was the man who brought us circles - it was cut in a mesmerising circle after circle, absolutely perfect fanning out from the centre spot.
I had long wondered why ? To distract the opposition in some way, to mark the club out as different - or for the then newly crowned Highfield Road groundsman to stamp his style? The answer is much simpler. “I got
bored one day, that's all.” Michael Finch was off. Two rugby pitches to prepare, four place kickers to supervise and then a week to get the surface ‘just so’ again for the visit of promotion hopefuls Reading on the 4th April who will, like most visitors, cast covetous eyes over Michael’s handiwork.
WINTER SPORTS FIELDS
60
● Dense, hard wearing sward ● Fast establishment ● High shoot density ● Good winter colour ● High disease resistance ● Now contains Madrid!
Camp Road, Witham St Hughs, Lincoln, LN6 9TW
Tel: 01522 861300
amenity@limagrain.co.uk www.limagrain.co.uk/mm
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