Summer Sports - Cricket
Damon mowing the Chester Road outfeld
Tim Packwood with David Leatherdale
with additional equipment to help prep the ground. They even hired in a Blotter to help remove water from the sheets. For Damon, who was only appointed as Head Groundsman at Kidderminster in January of this year, this was a real baptism of fire. Whilst aware, when he joined the club, that Chester Road is Worcestershire’s main outground, he was expecting that, in his first year in charge, and with no games scheduled into the 2012 fixtures, he would have a season to ‘bed in’ before being required to host major games. How quickly things can change!
Although happy with the square, Damon was concerned about the outfield. It had been rather neglected for several years, but he knew that, given time and resources, he would be able to make improvements. He had already treated the outfield for worms and moss and was due
to put on a second weed and feed. In addition, he was gradually working his way around the 2.5 hectare site with a sand, soil and seed mix to repair the drought damage from last year and localised wear from junior football played on the outfield in the winter. Damon first got wind of the problems
at New Road on Sunday 29th April, when Tim Packwood called him to say that they were on flood alert, and he should get prepared to host the CB40 game aginst the Dutch the following Monday, and probably the County Championship match against Surrey on the Wednesday! It soon became apparent, on the morning of Monday 30th April, that the scheduled WCCC 2nd XI match would need to be cancelled to accommodate the 1st team matches against The Netherlands and Surrey.
It was a case of all hands on deck as
Damon and Tim coordinated the preparation of the wickets and ground ready for both fixtures. It was a case of mowing, tidying up and preparing the areas for the tents and marquees, and ensuring the ground looked at its best in terms of presentation. They worked right through the week, including Saturday and Sunday, with most of those days being twelve hours or more. On the Friday, the marquees and temporary seating arrived, along with thirty portaloos!
Much of the time was spent taking sheets on and off the square, trying to find a balance between keeping the rain off and letting air get to the grass. A quick application of fungicide in between coverings kept the fusuarium at bay. Preparing for his first full county game was quite a challenge, but Damon came through with flying colours and, apart
JUNE/JULY 2012 PC 75
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