Schools & Colleges
The sheds have been improved
summer and 4:0:10 winter NPK - to maintain vigour and colour. All court lines are marked with a transfer wheel line marker and a ready mixed paint. As for irrigation, Matt relies on self travelling sprinklers on the sportsfields with water coming from a deep well. There is some restriction on the amount they can use but, to date, have never exceeded their extraction licence, even in the recent drought conditions. Matt brings in local contractor, Arthur
Peacock and Sons, for any specialist work such as vertidraining, end of season pitch renovations and overseeding, with Complete Weed Control carrying out weed and pest control. Eastern Trees are contracted in for all tree works. Budgets are not excessive, and Matt has to justify to the Bursar and Headmaster the benefits of any investments made to improve the school grounds. Matt’s main aim is to ensure
Artificial pitches
that the grounds are fit for purpose and a safe environment for all who use them. As for a wish list, Matt is keen for the school to invest in new cricket net facilities, along with looking to continue the investment in new machinery. He is hoping he will be given the budget to purchase a Sisis Quadraplay unit for the sportsfields, a new compact tractor and, last but not least, have funds made available for the reconstruction of the wickets on the main square. It would seem from my visit that the school grounds are in very good hands. The working relationship between all the groundstaff is excellent, and they are all well respected by the teaching staff. Matt lives on site and has settled in to being part of a very well run school. There are plenty of challenges ahead to maximise the potential of the facilities at The Leys, but ones that Matt is up for.
TWENTYQuestions
Matt Pullen - Usually, he’s mad and loud - if he’s not, then he’s won the lottery!
Who are you? Matt Pullen, Head Groundsman, The Leys, Cambridge.
Family status? Married with two children.
Who’s your hero and why? Sporting - Lance Armstrong, in ten years he went from being on death’s door to being one of the most famous sportsmen in the world. Work - Bill Gordon, in the short period of time I worked with him he taught me so much.
What is your dream holiday? To run across America.
What annoys you the most? Work - cold callers. Politicians, need I say more.
What would you change about yourself? My legs and feet. Mine are knackered.
Who wouldn’t you like to be? A Football Manager.
Favourite record, and why? The Lady is a Tramp, whether it’s sung by Sinatra or Tony Bennett. It reminds me of my father.
Who would you choose to spend a romantic evening with? Katy Hill, the ex Blue Peter presenter.
If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do? Keep quiet.
If you were to describe yourself as a musical instrument, what would you be and why? A set of drums, they are almost as loud as me.
What’s the best advice you have ever been given? Never say “that’ll do”.
What’s your favourite smell? Bacon cooking.
What do you do in your spare time? Marathons, cycling etc. Check out the website
www.the12in12.com and look for Matt.
What’s the daftest work related question you have ever been asked? Do you REALLY deal in grass? What type?
What’s your favourite piece of kit? Yard Broom - for brushing wickets. Every club in the country can afford one and it gives the same result.
What three words would you use to describe yourself? Loud, Sporty and Mad.
What talent would you like to have? To be a world class athlete at marathon running.
What makes you angry? Not being told things that I should know (sporting fixtures being cancelled).
What law/legislation would you like to see introduced? That domestic chainsaws should be banned and not sold to the public.
DECEMBER/JANUARY 2012 PC 15
Matt’s main aim is to ensure that the grounds are fit for purpose and a safe
environment for all who use them
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