Winter Sports - Football
Oli Makin
From Dale to Doha!
O
li Makin’s grandma always had him gardening with her and cutting the grass every weekend; “I suppose that got me into wanting to work outdoors from
an early age,” he says. “So, from an eight- year old cutting a garden in Rochdale, I am now Assistant Turf Manager in Qatar looking after seven grade A stadiums and numerous training fields. I couldn’t thank her enough.” From school, Oli briefly worked as a
volunteer groundsman at a local cricket club, before taking an apprenticeship at Rochdale AFC and progressing to Assistant Groundsman working under Phil Collinson.
“He showed me great enthusiasm during my four year spell with him,” Oli confirms. He then had a couple of years out, playing
cricket in Australia, returning for trials with Hampshire County Cricket Club, turning out for the 2nd XI on a number of occasions. “I felt I was close to being signed up,” Oli reckons, “but it was not to be, so when the Head Groundsman’s job became available at Spotland, I jumped at the chance.” Throughout his two year spell in the job, Oli showed the same enthusiasm afforded him by Phil to his apprentice, Drew Duffy, who has now taken over the role at Spotland following his departure.
During both his tenures at Rochdale, Oli
completed NVQ Level 2 in Sportsturf and carried out Pa1, Pa2 and Pa6 spraying certificates at Myerscough College. So, how and why Doha? “I was invited
over by Mark Sinnett, a former assistant head groundsman at Bolton Wanderers, who is now the Turf Manager for Doha Landscape. The company is based at the Doha Golf Club. At this point, I should like to thank Rochdale AFC for giving me the opportunity to develop my skills.” “At each of the seven stadiums we look
after, we have a team of five, with one allocated as site foreman. We have
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