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Spearhead Turf LTD
Growers of natural & rootzone sports turf using the very best STRI cultivars
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Tel: 01724 855000
email:
info@countyturf.co.uk www.countyturf.co.uk
Specialist growers of turf for sport and amenity
Winter sports Football and rugby
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Specialist growers of sportsturf and golf turf with a wide range of grades, rootzones, thick and fibre reinforced turf
Tel: 01904 448675
sales@turf.co.uk
www.turf.co.uk TYRES
Specialists in 1.2m wide big roll - supply only or supply and lay
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www.pitchcare.com
L-r: Victor Mifsud: Head Stadium Management; Joe Azzopardi, Groundsman at National Stadium; Michael Camilleri, Groundsman at MFA Training Grounds; Nunzio Frendo, Financial Assistant; and Emanuel Cassar, Infrastructure Projects & Maintenance Manager
On a short business trip to Malta, our Operations Director used the opportunity to visit the island’s National Stadium, where he was surprised to find two pitches in one
MALTA is not known for its footballing prowess; more for the fact that this Mediterranean tourist destination was awarded the George Cross for being the most bombed place on earth during the Second World War.
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However, very impressively, this tiny island of just 400,000 inhabitants has a thriving national league comprising no less than fifty-two teams in four divisions. The Premier League has twelve teams, and all of them share just three stadia (two natural turf and one artificial) to fulfil their year- round fixture list.
On a Limagrain organised visit to the Maltese FA’s National Stadium, I used the opportunity to have a chat with the groundstaff responsible for maintaining not just the stadium itself and an adjacent natural turf training area, but also the other two stadia used by the Premier League teams.
The grounds team comprises Emanuel Cassar, in overall charge and Infrastructure and Projects Manager, Victor Mifsud, the Head of Stadium Management, Joe Azzopardi, who has responsibility for the National Stadium, and Michael Camilleri, who looks after the training grounds. The team is ably supported by Nunzio Frendo, the financial assistant.
The National Stadium is a 17,000 all-seater which boasts an impressive, modern Millennium stand containing the association’s offices, executive boxes, swimming pool and gymnasium. The current stadium may have a relatively small
capacity since its improvements but, as Victor was quick and proud to point out, before the new stand was built, a record crowd of 32,000 watched an international against German
To accommodate the extensive league fixture list, the stadium has to stage 130 matches per year, normally back to back each Sunday, kicking off at 2.00pm and 4.00pm. Again, Victor was keen to tell me that there are also occasions during the season when five matches have taken place in a three day period!
Understandably, the sand based pitch sees a lot of wear and tear, however, the general maintenance routine is fairly standard with cutting three times a week using a Toro ride- on, and weekly solid tining.
Aeration is a key aspect of their work, explained Michael who then, rather more enthusiastically than was probably necessary, told me that worms are actively encouraged, even to the extent of having them brought in by the bucketload during the season! The grounds team, apparently, are happy to deal with the smearing that might result from any casts.
Being an island brings many logisitical problems, not least the prohibitive cost of importing most amenity products. As a result, local agricultural fertilisers are used out of economical necessity rather than preference. One
unavoidable expense, however, is sand for dressing the pitch, and this has to be brought in by
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TURF TO BE PROUD OF
Football
Two pitches in one at Maltese stadium
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