Winter Sports
The Edgeley Park stadium pitch ahead of the game against Forest Green Rovers
groundstaff. “My first game at City was at the end of last season against QPR - yes the ‘AGUEROOOO’ one - so it was an unbelievable start for me. I was based at the academy site, working under Steve Malone and Roy Rigby and, again, I gained a huge amount of knowledge and confidence from those two, and from Lee Jackson (stadium) and Lee Metcalfe (Carrington).” “It’s a great crew at Man City and the plans they have for their new training ground really are something that, in my opinion, will set the standard around the world.”
“I worked on various and different surfaces, such as Fibresand and Desso, and was thoroughly enjoying my work but, when the call came from the club I support to become their Head Groundsman, I knew it was something I had to seriously consider. I can tell you, it wasn’t an easy decision.” “I’ve only been back here since late
December, so it’s just been a case of managing the pitch the best I can, getting games on and getting the most out of the pitch until the end of the season.”
Liam’s first challenge was a double header against Hyde FC on Boxing Day, followed by the visit of Telford United on the 29th December. With two games in just four days Liam told the club officials; “I have examined the pitch the best I can over the last few days and I’m happy with its condition, despite the weather!” The Hatters pitch is a Fibresand construction, but even that had struggled with the amount of football and rugby fixtures and the run of poor winters. “There was never any time between games to do any meaningful work on the pitch,” says Liam. “All we could do was repair it as best we could, mark out for the changeover and put the relevant goal posts up!”
So, when Sale Sharks moved to their
new home at the Salford City Stadium in April 2012, it was a double edged sword; the pitch would improve, but the lost revenue would be of concern. “Whilst the Sale Sharks were here we always had quite sufficient renovations. We’d Koro off the top 15mm, turnover of the soils, top up the Fibresand levels and cultivate in with an application of pre- seed and then add around twenty bags of Johnsons Premier seed.” In 2010, the club financed new drainage - 110mm main drains, 80mm lateral drains at 5m and 50mm and sand slits at 1m and, partly as a result, we haven't had a game of rugby or football called off since.
The pitch has a full irrigation system in place, with fifteen sprinkler heads spread across the pitch and perimeters, and is capable of being programmed to water the pitch throughout the day and night. “At the moment I work alone on the
Man City’s Desso academy pitch
The Edgeley Park stadium pitch has full irrigation APRIL/MAY 2013 PC 69
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