... and immediately begins mowing
they can make a difference.” Feeding regimes involve some base N P K, along with some additional additives such as seaweed extracts, biomass sugars, fulvic acids/trace elements and iron supplements. PrimoMaxx is also applied to aid the performance of the sward, helping maintain colour/vigour and develop a good rooting system.
The stadium has a fully automated pop- up watering system in the pitch, plus statics on hoses to ensure even watering. The system is radio controlled, which enables Dan to water while he is out working on the pitch. Water is applied to keep the pitch stable, to benefit the grass and to help improve the speed of the ball during play. Like most modern sand based pitches, the Liberty has been prone to nematode damage. Over the last few years, Dan, with the help of Dean Gilasbey from Llanelli Scarlet’s, has been monitoring the population thresholds of nematodes in their pitches and has subsequently maintained a new regime to control them. “Dean has become a bit of an expert in the life-cycle of nematodes,” says Dan, “He has been working closely with Dr Colin Fleming, and has even purchased his own powerful microscope to help identify different types, monitoring their activity through the taking of regular soil samples.”
Dan and Dean are both currently trying a new formulation of nematode suppressant which, to date, has been very successful. The combination of good feeding regimes, pitch maintenance and regular doses of this new formulation has reduced nematode populations
... with some assistance!
dramatically, to such a degree they are well below damage thresholds. Dan’s philosophy is to be totally driven
in producing a good pitch, which takes a lot of time and dedication. “No two pitches are the same and there is no set agenda,” explains Dan. “It is a case of getting to know your pitch and having a sixth sense about its needs and requirements. Feeding regimes are tailored around these requirements - not cutting off too much leaf at certain times and being preventative with certain products. For example, Leaf Spot, at certain times of the year, can be fed out - why knock the whole plant with a fungicide when other options are available?”
By the time we had finished chatting, it was time to get something to eat, we were both staying at the stadium, ready for one of Dan’s notorious early starts! We even had time to go and see Dean Gilasbey at the Scarlet’s stadium, some twenty minutes from the Liberty. There was an evening game on with Llanelli Scarlet’s playing Cardiff Blues; a big local derby with a play off position at stake. As soon as we arrived, Dean came to the gates to let us in and we made our way to his office. We got chatting about his war on nematodes, with Dean showing me some active nematodes on soil samples taken that day. At half time we went out on to the pitch to help put some divots back, and then bade our farewells and headed back to the Liberty. After a quick bite to eat at the Harvester pub next to the stadium, we made our way back to Dan’s office for a bit of a guitar session and a few more beers. This was to be my room for the
night, while Dan got his head down in another office. We eventually retired around midnight to get some much needed rest, before our early start, set for 3.00am!
Match Day Pitch Preparation
I was awoken by Dan coming into the office and, within ten minutes, we were both out on the pitch. This was quite an eerie experience as the pitch was lit up by one set of floodlights to allow us to see what we were doing. The pitch had received 2.5mm of rain and the air temperature, when we started, was 7°C . I started rattling off some pictures to
capture the moment - I took over 500 pictures over the course of the day! Perhaps in an attempt to make me put down my camera, Dan asked if I would be keen to help mow the pitch and, not wanting to let Dan down (but feeling rather rusty), I agreed to have a go. Dan set up the stripes and I followed. The first few runs were quite testing - the nap on the sward was quite fierce, tugging at the mower - it was a case of putting enough pressure on the mower to keep it straight. Cutting height was set at 22.5mm. Why 22.5? As Dan says, “It’s not 22mm, and it’s not 23mm!”
Dan uses turning boards to prevent
excess damage to the pitch, moving them up and along as they go.
I did offer to stop mowing if Dan thought I was below his standards, but he was happy to let me continue. I felt very proud to be mowing his pitch. It was certainly a first for me - not many people can say they have mown a football pitch at 3.00am in the morning! We had nearly finished the first cut
Goal posts are put up ...
and the crowd starts to build as the teams warm up 71
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