Rob Ellis spiking between the two hurling finals days
The last of the turf was laid at 8.15pm. Remarkably, the crew had clawed back most of the lost time. With the turf in place, and the pitch green, there was an all round sense of achievement.
Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd August: Pitch Preparations
With the turf rolled, and the joints washed, the turf was mown and lines burnt in. At this stage the pressure was on the groundstaff to prepare the pitch. The STRI also had to carry out a series of performance tests on the pitch during this period. Remarkably, some of the best performance test results ever achieved at Croke Park were noted immediately after laying. Richard and Robert decided to mow narrow bays to mask any visible imperfections. With the turf only laid for twenty-four hours, some seams were visible, but it was agreed that the brief was safety, performance and aesthetics in that order.
Hollow coring in September
Sunday 3rd and Monday 4th August: Matchday
Croke Park staff and management were rewarded for their efforts after the first day of play. Following three hard games of Gaelic football, both players and managers complimented the pitch claiming it played perfect. Heartening headlines including “pitch perfect” and “Croker pitch plays a Blinder” were a further confidence boost. Six competitive games were played on the surface that weekend. Stage 3 of the project was complete. The GAA had pulled off a remarkable project.
Further Work and Matches in September
In terms of aesthetics, the pitch got worse before it got better. All of the freezer burns had to be dyed, overseeded, sprayed and covered with germination blankets which had to be removed every two days for mowing over a four week period. The groundstaff did a remarkable job to bring the pitch back to 100% cover for the 2009 All Ireland Finals in
Pitch presented for Ireland v France football match
September. With the exception of one weekend in August the pitch played extremely well and, considering the weather and the usage that particular weekend, the focus remained on getting the pitch back to perfection. As both All Irelands came and went, the pitch played well and the presentation was exemplary.
A very specific nutrient and cultural management programme included the use of a specific, cold process, dried seaweed extract, which achieved dense rooting of nearly 100mm in just four weeks! After enduring four pitch invasions of 50,000 people over the month of September, hollowcoring and topdressing aimed to winter proof the pitch.
Life gets easier? At a time when it seemed the
greatest challenge was overcome, the announcement that the stadium was to host an Irish international soccer match and rugby match within twelve
TWENTYQuestions
David Goldstone - appears to be having a problem with his fruit ... and counting!
What annoys you the most? Bad timekeeping or people not returning calls.
What would you change about yourself? I would love to stop smoking but I have no will power.
Who wouldn’t you like to be? The Prime Minister.
Favourite record, and why? Blue Oyster Cult: Don’t fear the reaper… just an absolute classic.
Who are you? David Goldstone, Managing Director of Tower Sports (Europe) Ltd.
Family status? Married to Denise, with three children, Emma 21, Jack 17 and Will 13.
Who’s your hero and why? My wife, anybody that puts up living with me is a superstar and long past hero status.
What is your dream holiday? On a warm island where BlackBerrys don’t get a signal and beer is free.
Who would you choose to spend a romantic evening with? Cheryl Cole … sorry Denise, you don’t even get a look in.
If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do? Look after those that have looked after me.
If you were to describe yourself as a musical instrument, what would you be and why? A drum kit. Loud, in your face and, eventually, gives you a headache.
What’s the best advice you have ever been given? Don’t eat yellow snow.
What’s your favourite smell? Freshly baked bread.
What do you do in your spare time? Sleep, play golf and then sleep some more.
What’s the daftest work related question you have ever been asked? A member of the golf club asked me if we could put the triple mowers out to cut the snow!
What’s your favourite piece of kit? Turf Iron, if used both correctly and sparingly.
What three words would you use to describe yourself? Hard working, family man, good sense of humour.
What talent would you like to have? To play flop shots around the green.
What makes you angry? The state looking after the greedy rather than the needy.
What law/legislation would you like to see introduced? A life sentence in prison actually meaning a life sentence in prison.
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