Winter Sports - Football
Middlesbrough FC head groundsman Tony Bell is an industry pioneer not afraid to adopt innovative methods and machinery, but only after the appliance of science has been brought to bear, reports Tom James
Middlesbrough FC
Full ‘steam’ ahead for Boro
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hampionship promotion contenders Middlesbrough Football Club were one of the founding members of the Premier League in 1992, moving
three years later from Ayresome Park, their home since formation in 1876, to the Riverside Stadium in summer 1995. Their bid to return to the top flight,
following their relegation to tier two in 2009, will not be too soon for head groundsman Tony Bell, who has witnessed the triumphs and traumas and who is hoping to step up to Premiership provision at the club’s stadium, Rockliffe Park training ground and Eston MFC Foundation sites. Tony, 52, joined Boro in 1997, heading up
the training ground turfcare team for five years before coming into his current post fourteen years ago after the retirement of David Rigg. A lover of cricket as well as football, Tony
feels privileged to have met some sporting greats in his twelve years at Middlesbrough Cricket and Rugby Club then later at Boro. “When I moved to Acklam Park, I followed
in the footsteps of Tom Flintoft and Keith Boyce, two of the masters of our industry, witnessed Geoff Boycott score his 15th first- class century and the emergence of Michael Vaughan.” “On moving to our training ground, I
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worked with the likes of Bryan Robson, Viv Anderson and Gordon McQueen. I was a little star struck, but felt very privileged.” It’s a case of work in progress at
Middlesbrough though, Tony adds. “I’d like to end my career here and retire into the wilderness, but there are plenty more plans and ambitions before that comes about.” Boro can boast of being pioneers in
football provision. Its training ground facility is sited within the grounds of sport and leisure jewel Rockliffe Hall Hotel Golf and Spa - an official club partner - the five-star destination owned by Middlesbrough-born businessman and club chairman Steve Gibson who, with a consortium, saved Boro from liquidation in 1986 following its slide into decline. Budgets were tight when the club reached
rock bottom in the Championship four or five seasons ago. That’s when communication across all levels really counted and still does as fortunes rise once more, Tony believes. “Our team have a really great relationship
with coaches and players, and it is in our own interests to have that. We sing off the same hymn sheet. Communication is the key and, in chief operating officer Mark Ellis and chief executive Neil Bausor, we have board members who really understand our problems.”
Regularly in at 8.00am, early bird Tony
I’d like to end my career here and retire into the wilderness, but there are plenty more plans and ambitions before that comes about
”
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