Pitchcare Classifieds SPORTS TURF CONTRACTORS
CH GROUNDS MAINTENANCE LTD
DRAINAGE
Piped Drainage, Sand Slitting, SandMaster CONSTRUCTION
Sports Fields and Golf Courses RENOVATION
Verti-draining, GroundBreaker, Over-seeding Top-dressing, Koro Field Topmaker
Tel: 01494 758208
info@chgrounds.com www.chgrounds.com
as companies streamlined production; putting employees out of work, closing down factories and offices and selling off their land to housing and small industrial developments.
Grassroot sports clubs had to re-evaluate their prospects as to whether or not to continue or simply go under. Many chose to continue, but some inevitably folded. Those who chose to soldier on often had to move to pastures new, trying to support their ambitions with voluntary contributions, fund raising and amalgamations to meet all the overheads required in running an affiliated sports club. The rising costs of maintaining a sports ground were not met lightly as clubs struggled to meet the requirements of providing a suitable and sustainable playing surface, as well as building costs, rates and services.
The sportsturf industry was also going through a radical shift in Personal Professional Development; education and qualifications becoming a prerequisite.
Few clubs could afford to employ a groundsman. Many relied on volunteers, who did not possess qualifications but had learned as they went along, begging, borrowing, seeking advice and making mistakes, all the time hoping that their actions would not cause too many problems.
Every club has an army of volunteers; those ‘band of brothers’ who painstakingly put themselves and their families out to support the cause in keeping the club alive, persevering whilst attempting to produce the best playing surface possible, carrying out repairs to vandalised property and then serving refreshments and hospitality before calling it a day!
Every sports club, up and down the country, relies heavily on voluntary contributions from members who give their time and support to providing a safe, sustainable environment for the enjoyment of others. With austerity running through the whole of the country, cutbacks, pay freezes and redundancies are becoming commonplace. So, the importance of the
volunteer groundsman within a club is of paramount importance for it to survive.
This is where the associated sports governing bodies need to be role models and get involved at the grassroots, supporting those clubs in the most desperate need of their services.
Why? Because the governing bodies are setting the bar higher and higher, with ground improvements that are far beyond the reach of some grassroots clubs that run on a shoestring and rely heavily on bar profits to make ends meet. Gone are the days when one man and his dog could go along to watch a game without being told he has to pay to view?
Maintenance practices are being streamlined to save money, but still the leagues and their governing bodies expect the playing surfaces to be safe, sustainable and well presented. Too many clubs are going to the wall as a result of these mandates. They do not have a fairy godmother to wave a magic wand and produce a state of the art playing surface as seen on television. The results come from hard work, usually with inadequate machinery or equipment that is probably ready for the scrap heap, held together with spot welds and string.
Whilst the ‘big boys’ do have access to all the machinery and equipment, their obligations to provide a first class playing surface comes at a price. The paying public want to see good value for their hard earned money, even if they come away disappointed by the on-field performances of the playing professionals!
Yet, even at this level,
volunteers are seen assisting on match days, putting back divots removing goalposts, covers or advertising from the pitch. Everybody needs a volunteer.
So, let’s sing the praises of these wonderful people and recognise their achievements, by giving them the credit and rewards they deserve.
The industry needs to support these clubs through times of crisis with guidance, education and financial support.
Vertidraining, Hollow Coring, Overseeding, Draining, Gravel Banding, Field Top Maker, Deep Scarifying
Mobile: 07860 259692
Tel: 01284 735105 Email:
peter@buryturfcare.com www.buryturfcare.com
SPORTS TURF D CRANE
Construction Golf Courses, Natural/
Artificial Pitches, MUGAs
Renovation Koro Field Top Maker, Fibre Sand Installation, Laser Grading, Seeding
Drainage
Piped Drainage, Sandmaster, Whiz Wheel, Gravel Banding
Tel:01254 878047
Email:
info@dcranesportsturf.com Website:
www.dcranesportsturf.com
Advertising in the classified section of Pitchcare magazine costs as little as £200 a year
Contact Peter Britton on 01952 898516
Philip Dixon Contractors Ltd Established 1978
Sportsturf Drainage Specialist Drainage Construction Renovation
Slitting Banding Maintenance
Tel 01772 877289 (Preston, Lancs) Email:
info@dixondrainage.co.uk www.dixondrainage.co.uk
SCONSTRUCTION DRAINAGE
Sand Slitting, Gravel Banding V RENOVATION
erti Draining, Hollow Coring, Scarifying, Koro Field Topmaker, Topdressing, Overseeding, Sand Spreading
ports Fields and Golf Courses
Tel: 01772 780545
danvicturfcare@btconnect.com
Mobile: 07768 122577
Sports Ground Contractors Ltd
DECEMBER/JANUARY 2013 PC 129
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