“My regular standing in the Cricket Groundsman of the Year must mean that I am doing something right”


Equipment includes a Dennis G860 and Lloyds Paladin for the square, a Toro 2300D Reelmaster used for cutting the outfield, a Graden Scarifier, a SISIS spreader and a pedestrian Groundsman aerator. A trusty old Ford 1210 tractor does all the heavy work and there is the obligatory Blotter for water removal. The rollers are an old Greens Griffin weighing in at three tonnes and a lighter two tonne model. With over thirty years service to the club, Phil still sees every day as a fresh challenge and obviously enjoys the banter with players, spectators and colleagues. “Mind you” he says, “some strange things happen. We allow spectators onto the outfield between innings and, as long as they stay off the square that’s not too bad. But, one day, I was rolling the wicket and this drunk bloke wearing a dress leapt onto the roller and nearly knocked me off. It’s funny now but, at the


time, was pretty dangerous.” With all the edicts, guidelines, last minute swapping of wickets, seagulls, drunk spectators and the increased workload, how does he keep enjoying his job? “In recent years we groundsmen have all been at the mercy of the press, media and, occasionally, umpires who are quick to judge our surfaces at every opportunity” says Phil. “But, there is nothing better than those times when you get praise, and my regular standing in the Cricket Groundsman of the Year must mean I am doing something right.” Phil relates one final story. “At a


groundsman’s meeting in Durham a few years ago, Pete Eaton, someone I had known and respected greatly, died in his hotel room. Just the night before we had been drinking and sharing stories, and the next day he was gone. It was a great shock and puts what I do, and any problems I might have, into perspective for me.”


Memorial seating


Thirty wicket square Groundsman - The Professional’s Choice


Turf Cutters


• Two and Four Wheel Drive • Rugged Build, Low Maintenance • 24 Month Factory Warranty • Low Vibration Levels, Easy to Operate • Exceptional Traction in All Conditions • 12, 14, 16 & 18in Sod Cutting • Mole Draining, Decompaction


• Trenching Multiple Strip Cutting For Revetting etc.


• Guillotine Chop-off Attachment


Turf Aerators and Collectors


• Four Pedestrian and Two Tractor Mounted Turf Aerator Models • Quick Change Tine Holders for Hollow, Solid, Needle, Chisel, Star and Cluster • Flexblade Core Collector Attachment for one pass Coring and Collection • Flexblade Collector available separately for Tractor or Turf Vehicle


For more information please contact Billy Warke at Groundsman Industries


Tel: 028 2766 7049 Fax: 0282766 6855 Email: bwarke@groundsmanindustries.co.uk


www.groundsmanindustries.com 19


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