WELCOME TO pitchcare
The One Show - an update
FOLLOWING the Trade discussion on the 8th March this year, regarding the ‘One Show’, there was a second meeting between a select committee from the Trade and the representatives of both BIGGA and the IOG at the NEC on the 28th July.
Whilst it is a difficult subject, and one that has been discussed for a good while, there was a robust and constructive discussion where progress was made.
The conclusions reached and circulated by the Chairman (the AEAs Roger Lane Nott) are as follows:
1. There is a desire for change from company representatives.
2. There is a need for us all to respond to the market and evolve not revolve.
3. There are many different reasons why people go to shows. Amongst these are: regional/local issues, a day out, social, business to sell or buy, education, research, window shop, to promote.
4. Many companies exhibit because their competitors do.
5. The customer base is very diverse and the requirements of any show are different for each company. Amongst the customers are: Manufacturers, Suppliers, Dealers, Distributors, Architects, Buyers, Specifiers, End Users, Retail - some national and some international.
6. Diversity not necessarily a good thing, but it does work.
7. Companies need to communicate requirements better.
8. All need to raise profile of industry as a whole with Government.
9. AEA needs to put these views to the larger manufacturers.
10. Need to survey exhibitors to establish customer’s requirements.
It was agreed that the IOG, BIGGA and the Trade will come together to address the conclusions of the meeting and explore the feasibility of a single landbased industry show with IOG and BIGGA’s full involvement. The next meeting has been arranged for September.
2010 is officially the driest summer in over sixty years - even the usually moist north west has suffered hose pipe bans - summer sports groundsmen have been struggling with their surfaces - and water bills, no doubt.
Whilst drought conditions are nothing
new, and our ever resourceful industry always manages to find solutions, first class cricket groundsmen have been hit by another major issue, that of an increased fixture list.
In their wisdom, the ECB saw fit to load the Twenty20 fixture list, in the process doubling the amount of games. This has resulted in players complaining of fatigue and dwindling attendance at most grounds. But, what of the groundstaff?
In this issue you’ll find an article on Northampton County Cricket Club, where our editor spent the day with head groundsman, Paul Marshall, and his team. Paul’s day began at 7.30am and finished at 10.30pm - a total of 15 hours. And, for him, that is happening day in, day out, throughout the summer. Paul is, perhaps, fortunate to have a good number of staff to help him and a decent selection of machinery.
That’s not the case at Uxbridge CC and Bournemouth University’s Dean Park facility - both of which have hosted first class games this season.
The Uxbridge Festival week, when Middlesex welcomed Sussex, resulted in Head Groundsman, Vic Demain, falling out with the Sussex management over the state of his pitch. There was, as it turned out, nothing wrong with how it played. Comments from Vic’s diary on the ‘Middlesex Till We Die’ website were picked up by the national press and, all of a sudden, he is a ‘celebrity’!
At Dean Park, Head Groundsman, Andy Dixon, suffered vitriolic comments from players and managers through 2009 and, if you read the article, you’ll understand the reasons why - none of them of Andy’s making.
Interestingly, the original article was rather scathing of his employees and his excessive workload - over 100 hours a week. Having been given the article for approval, the university not only toned down the content, but gave Andy an assistant, plus the option for additional work experience staff as and when required. At least Pitchcare achieved a good result here.
Cricket groundsmen at first class facilities are in danger of burn-out - the authorities need to take their working conditions and remuneration into consideration before piling on the extra workload.
Cheers Dave Saltman
Say that again!
“And woe betide them if they don’t mop out the changing rooms - they have been dragged out of the pub in the past!” Peter Edmondson, Butleigh PFA
“The last thing I want is people giving me their opinions whilst I’m trying to get on with my job!”
Andy Dixon, Dean Park
“AMG is the real Millwall of grass species, no one likes it, but it doesn’t care!”
David Goodjohn, Green Infrastructure
“We’re not just talking about growing grass, we’re talking about ensuring that the surface is safe for the horses”
Alan Hatherley, Newmarket Racecourses
“They may have very complicated sex, with many of them producing sex pheremones and with many different types of sex organs”
Steve Nicholls, Sea-Chem Ltd
“Once people find out you are in financial difficulties, they don’t want to deal with you” Mark Perrin, Crystal Palace Football Club
“We are expected to work 12 to 14-hour days for little financial reward, and that’s something that just doesn’t appeal to younger people now”
Vic Demain, Uxbridge Cricket Club
“We have tried many different methods to combat this problem, including ultrasound devices and numerous chemical concoctions, all harmless to fish and wildlife but, unfortunately, also harmless to pond weed!” Peter Craig, The Hurlingham Club
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