Pitchcare
A ‘Hive’... of activity
For the best part of their history - they were founded in 1888 - Barnet Football Club played their football at the Underhill Stadium in Barnet, before a short hop across the M1 saw them establish a new home in the London Borough of Harrow in 2013
outside grass pitches and two full size 3G pitches which are used by the 1st XI for training, the Academy for matches and training and many local community clubs throughout the year. Mills, who joined the club as Head Groundsman ten months ago. “I started out at my local cricket club able to so, and enjoyed doing it so much I found myself moving into the industry. There was a new team. I became deputy head greenkeeper within a year and stayed for about four years, seeing the project from farmland to golf course.”
I moved away from the trade for a while, but club and also worked privately on some landscaping jobs. I returned to the job about ten years ago at club since 1972 so, when the opportunity came
groundsman, I was only too pleased.” “Before coming to Barnet, I was working for a
landscaping company. I guess you could say that I learnt ‘on the job’, but I do now have all the “Over the years, I have built up a good network of friends and colleagues that I feel happy to talk to about things; people like Andy Clarke, the ECB Regional Advisor, and Mick Fance at Everris. We talk to my two sons a lot about the industry. Rob is Head Greenkeeper at Blue Mountain Golf Course in Berkshire and George is Head Groundsman at West Herts Cricket Club. We have most sports covered!”
Mair, who has been at the club for two years, “I believe that providing ongoing training is an
increasingly important aspect of my role, and I is vital. We have Oaklands College not far from us, The stadium pitch is 90% Fibresand and, says The stadium pitch is in use for twelve months
of the year, so the maintenance procedures are on available in the form of two Dennis mowers with
The stadium pitch is obviously our shop window, and presentation is key
”
other areas are treated the same, but with less intensity. We also have a new John Deere tractor, and banking. We do as much of our own servicing with our local dealer, P. Tuckwell, when anything purchases.” “The stadium pitch is obviously our shop
take that sense of pride onto all the outer pitches. dressed, and the aim is to rotate this work so there are always areas available for use. Regular soil “The fringe areas of the site are not to the
standard that I would like currently, and we are looking at ways and ideas to improve this.” The two 3G pitches, which were installed back in 2009, are brushed regularly and have thorough periodic checks as per the manufacturer’s “Budgets are controlled by the Club Chairman,”
Fortunately, he has a good understanding of all that clubs at our level.”
Head Groundsman, Bob Mills
I Assistant Mike Mair
degree. The biggest problem we have is foxes chewing the nets on the outer pitches; these are raised, when not in use, to stop this.” Our chairman is very keen that we are seen as good neighbours - we have a lot of them - so we need to Outside of his ‘day job’ Bob is a new grandad, Chairman of Thorley Cricket Club (where he’s played for forty years this season), Fixtures umpire. He confesses to being a poor golfer; “I can’t
understand how a game I love, treats me so badly!”
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