Educational Establishments


“There’s no time for celebrations, no time for ceremony, no excuses for jobs not being completed. The job of a school groundsman is a 365 day a year task - there is no downtime!”


like to take the time to congratulate each nominee - the very fact that you have been nominated demonstrates that your work has been recognised, and someone thinks that you are worthy of an award for your efforts - you should be very proud. Further to this, I wish luck to each finalist, and offer my sincere congratulations to the winners of each category. From nominee to award winner, simply being part of this process can serve as a catalyst for you, not only on a personal level, but also as a tool that can be used when negotiating with your


employers - use what you have achieved to maximum effect. Upon our return to the Isle of Man


from our ‘jolly’ to York Racecourse (beautiful venue), reality hit home. There’s no time for celebrations, no time for ceremony, no excuses for jobs not being completed. The job of a school groundsman is a 365 day a year task - there is no downtime. As one season finishes, another starts or, in many cases such as ours, it seems as though one season starts before the other has finished!


As I’m sure many of you feel, there is


always increasing pressure to start a season earlier, or extend the end of it further. There are two factors to bear in mind here - multisport sites have more than one sport to accommodate, and we groundsmen also need ‘our time’ to renovate, to establish, to set up and such like - we, as groundsmen, have to communicate these facts accordingly, and make sure that decision makers back our cause - positive and proactive communications are key in this process. Secondly, weather! As some readers will be all too aware, I’m an avid fan of collecting weather data, studying it and


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