It’s
ways using the Dennis mowers. I soon badgered them to let me have a go and it was nice to mow a few bands.
10.00am - Mowing was completed, and all that remained was to mark out the pitch. Gareth used a transfer wheel marker, mixing a 50/50 paint/water ratio to achieve a good bright line.
Strings were used to ensure the lines were kept straight and true. Phil prepared some topdressing to lute into the goalmouths to repair levels, and recent fox damage was also repaired with topdressing.
Phil followed Gareth around the pitch painting penalty spots, centre spot and corners. No portable goals are put out at Pompey, they allow the teams to train in the goalmouths under the FA Rules - no more than twenty minutes crossing into the goals.
11.00am - Once the pitch had been marked, the nets were inspected and secured, and corner flags put out.
12.00 noon - Phil liaised with playing staff, the manager and coaches to check whether the pitch is to be watered before the game. With rain forecast, but not yet
arrived,
a decision is taken to
give the pitch a final water to ensure it speeds up the playing surface.
Each perimeter sprinkler head was manually put on for a duration of five minutes, with Gareth and Phil bringing on the hose and sprinkler to water the centre areas of the pitch, taking care not to over water the goalmouths and centre circle.
1.30pm - Watering complete, stewards and police start arriving into the ground
2.00pm - Players from both teams come out for warm ups.
3.00pm - The match kicks off. The groundstaff have four seats allocated near to the players tunnel, where we remain seated until half time, when it’s time to go out and repair divots. Phil goes to the away end, Gareth to the Fratton end, while I get the opportunity to divot the centre circle and wings.
Phil’s mobile rings and Rob Crouch from New Forest Farm Machinery, who is in the crowd, asks him “is that Laurence Gale from Pitchcare on the pitch?”
always a great atmosphere at Fratton Park, and it was great to be back and hear the crowd of over 14,000 chanting ‘Play Up
Pompey’. They were
hoping Portsmouth could get back into the match after going one down to Derby in the first half.
4.00pm - The second half gets underway, and it’s back to our seats, hoping for that equaliser. The crowd gets nosier, and the pitch is playing well. late in the game Pompey get their equaliser and the match finishes 1-1.
4.45pm - The game finishes and Phil and Gareth get back out onto the pitch, hang up goal nets, put up rope barriers and start replacing divots, usually working for an hour or so to allow the traffic to subside, before calling it a day.
Meanwhile, I get an invite to meet up with some former Portsmouth players in the players lounge after the match. After a brief chat, I went back out onto the pitch to thank Phil and Gareth for putting up with me and allowing me the chance to enjoy the Pompey experience one more time.
T4000 series
• Compact Tractors • Ride-on Mowers • Utility Vehicles • Attachments
www.newholland.com/uk NEW HOLLAND TOP SERVICE 00800 64 111 111
Rustler series
Boomer series
OUR GROUNDCARE RANGE IS VERY WIDE GROUNDC ARE : CO VERED
TC24 series
G6000 series
YOUR SUCCESS - OUR SPECIALTY 85
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148