Winter Sports - Football
Who’s who ... and what’s what? The groundstaff
Three people work permanently at Goodison: Bob Lennon, John Howell and Tony Balshaw.
Ten groundstaff look after Finch Farm: Robbie Glesby, Paul Mutch, John Suffler, Ryan Powell, Joe Baxendale, Scott Moore, Kevin Black, Andy Williamson, Phil Dixon and Alan Mahon.
Goodison pitch
One of the few clubs in the Premier League with a camber. “It’s totally cosmetic now. It does have an effect, but it’s more about the heritage,” Ryan says.
Training ground pitches
The building is split in two, so one side is the academy and one side is for the professionals.
Finch Farm training ground
stand underneath, the light and warmth being emitted is incredible. “These are lifesavers,” Ryan tells me. “We only get four to six hours in the sun with the stands, not even near that on some days. So these are massive, because they simulate a nice summer’s day. We will leave these on for the rest of the day and night now, and then get them off to mow. Even this morning, when me and Bob were mowing where the rig had been, it was absolutely spewing out compared to other areas, simply because it was so stood up.” Bob and the team use the rigs wisely, and
The club take a sports psychology approach to the layout of the grounds: There are two plateaus for the pitches. The top is for the first team and the reserve team, and the other pitches are for the youngsters up until eighteen.
make sure that the high wear areas where the goalkeepers warm up have as many hours of light as they can, and have the best possible chance. “We have the little baby rigs down there as well. We will have Tim Howard warming up this side, so we will try and get that nice and strong and standing up as best as we can, because we know he is going to go on it and it is going to be
stressed out.” They are careful to only hit the allotted daytime hours however; “anything more and you can stress out the plant because it’s detrimental to what you actually need.” Currently studying for his FdSc with
Myerscough College, he is eager to learn and applies the science that he so enjoys studying to the job he is doing daily. “I know the signs of something, but I am learning the science behind it now. Like Bob, he knows the science behind it and he links the two. I think it’s a great combination," Ryan says, “Give me a little hint of what I should do and I want to go and find out about it. I have a genuine interest.” It’s this passion and interest that Bob
recognises in Ryan. “You get sheep and you get shepherds,” Bob tells me. “You get a couple of people who want to improve themselves, better themselves. So you’ve got to lead these people and push them further on if you can do that.” I ask Bob what he
“You bring your child in at the age of eight and he’ll see it like a stepping stone. It’s like dangling the carrot.”
The Free School
Everton Free School is another first for Everton Football Club. They offer alternative educational opportunities and experiences to young people aged 14-16 and Level 2 and 3 sixth form.
Family enclosure and cheap tickets for youngsters:
“Giving the kids a good experience so that hopefully they will bring their kids when they grow up.”
Bob Lennon highlights Ryan’s award - it reflects well on the whole club 92 I PC DECEMBER/JANUARY 2016
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