A huge improvement in the pitch in one year following Keith’s advice
The RFU’s tractor aerator combo “I would love to take this pitch all over the country to
installed, along with high spec Abacus floodlighting. The main pitch has been lit to a maintained level of 250 lux with the training pitch lit to 300 lux. In 2008, the club also installed a Desso DD Rugby Pro all weather pitch. This incorporates Desso’s supersoft 70mm monofilament fibre, as well as an additional heavy backing. The extra long pile allows for enough rubber infill to make the surface a safe landing point for any falls from lineout or intense tackling, whilst the additional backing ensures the carpet’s stability against scrummaging, rucking and mauling.
The club have access to this on a daily basis, but allow community groups to use it at all other times.
The maintenance of the pitches is undertaken by Birmingham Council, who are paid by the club for their services. Trevor Edge is the nominated council supervisor, who works alongside Adam. Between them they look after all the natural turf pitches and the all weather pitch.
The main natural turf pitch is worked on daily. Adam and Trevor mow the pitch two or three times a week using a Ransomes Matador 36” cylinder mower. During the growing period it is kept at 50mm. They mark out for matches on a weekly basis. Feeding is centred around a granular
programme, feeding every four to six weeks depending on the needs of the grass, with an occasional feed of liquid iron to colour up and increase strength. Post match, divots are repaired and
replaced, with the aim of getting the pitch back into good order. Trevor uses a Ferrari rotary mower to clean up the pitch after matches; it’s a quick and easy job completed in less than an hour. Pitch preparation is usually carried out the day before a game. The pitch is mown, watered and marked out. The pitch does tend to dry out quite quickly due to the strong south westerly winds that blow across Billesley Common. During the summer months it is not uncommon for it to be watered on a daily basis.
Adam also spends a lot of time looking 96
after the all weather pitch, carrying out a daily litter pick, regular brushing (2-3 times per week) with a SISIS rotary brush. Periodical cleaning is undertaken by Sweepfast. The input of Keith Kent to the Moseley pitch has been invaluable. When he visited the club back in
March of 2010, he found the pitch in a poor condition, with little or no grass. This was due to a number of things, but the biggest contributors were a lack of deep aeration and extreme winter weather.
However, a year on, and Keith is pleased with the progress the staff had made. “At that time, the pitch was as hard as a brick with barely any grass,” states Keith. “We had just come through a bad winter and the pitch was looking the worse for wear. Twelve months on, I am delighted with what the club have achieved. The ground staff have done the most magnificent job.” “There is so much more grass on the pitch. There must be at least 75% grass coverage! The top surface was very good and very easy to dig my spade into. The soil was so much healthier, and no sign of compaction at all. The sand that had been applied last year was still there in the profile doing such a good job. The wormcasts are full of sand, and the worms are working away also doing a good job for the club. It is also worth remembering that this winter was perhaps worse than the last!” “If ever there was an advert for aeration and sand, then this pitch is the number one! I would love to take this pitch all over the country to show people just what can be achieved inside one year.” Keith is keen to see the club continue
improving the pitch quality. This will be achieved by further applications of sand. Trevor is already planning to apply another 60 tonnes of sand during end of season renovations in late April, early May, after the final senior match has been played and before the junior mini rugby tournament later in May. Adam and Trevor are aware that it is important to keep the deep aeration
show people just what can be achieved inside one year” Keith Kent, Head Groundsman, Twickenham RFU
going, and are planning to deep spike it twice with the soil reliever. They will also scarify the pitch, deep aerate, topdress and overseed. Keith recommends they use a 100% ryegrass seed mixture and ensure it is drilled into the soil to ensure effective germination. And to ensure that, once it has germinated, it is mown on a regular basis, at least twice a week, to help the sward tiller. “I see too many clubs that to ‘forget’ to mow once the season has finished, and leave it get out of hand,” says Keith. “I have also recommended a balanced fertiliser programme to give that seed the best possible start. I suggest that the club fertilise three times a year, once in April/May, as the remedial work is taking place. An application of 8:12:8 would give the seed as much nutrient as it is going to need in establishing itself.” “Then, as the club is about to kick off the new season, apply a high Nitrogen boost of 16:6:6. That would really kick the grass sward on. It would also give a magnificent colour as the players run out for the first game.” “And then, finally, in the autumn, give the pitch an autumn/winter feed. If they can do, this allied with a pass of the aerator, all the better. In the autumn, it is important to give the cell walls of the plant and the roots a boost as we go into the dark winter months. A 4:10:10 will help the grass survive a hard winter.” Trevor and Adam will definitely be taking Keith’s recommendations on board, as they have seen the improvements achieved since last year’s advice was implemented. As well as improving the Moseley pitch, Adam has seen the benefits of deep aeration on other local grounds that have hired the RFU tractor and aerator.
Adam coordinates the hire of the combo. The current rate is £250 per pitch plus VAT. However, there is a transport charge if the club is more than fifteen miles away from Moseley. Anyone interested should contact Adam at Moseley Rugby Club on 0121 443 3631.
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