Winter Sports - Rugby


because that way you get people who care about the job first, and the sport second, rather than the other way around.”


When Mark Campbell


approached Chris last year, during Chris’ stint as a free agent, he told him that he wanted ‘to be proud of his pitch, as he was of his club’. Chris was an experienced groundsman at a high level, having worked for both Leeds United and Yorkshire Cricket Club. When asked, he can quickly name several people who have inspired him and acted as mentors, which he says is characteristic of the industry. He elaborates that, as well as fielding a strong sense of community, he also thinks it is in a good state generally: “I think through magazines


like Pitchcare, but also through Twitter etc., the industry is working very close together nowadays.”


“It helps the smaller clubs get


in touch with the bigger clubs, and it helps groundsmen too. Like I’ve said before, the way things are allows the club’s bond with Leeds [Rhinos] to be so strong.”


“Sometimes, turfcare staff can be undervalued, but that’s not the case here. And all the good things like this stem from that community feel. This is a community club. Featherstone Women play here, the foundation run courses here; this is a community stadium.” His mentors have included Keith Boyce (see page 46 of this issue) who, thirty-three years


ago, accepted him for a trial at Yorkshire Cricket Club while Keith was in charge of the pitch there, as well as John Reynolds and Norman Summerwood, who were both Head Groundsmen at Leeds United FC. John, as a long-time and


clearly passionate Leeds Rhinos fan, evidently enjoyed his time with Leeds, but is also now relishing the change of pace that comes with moving to a smaller club, to a less active ground.


When he moved to Fev not


long after his post at Leeds, there had been drainage issues ongoing, it being a surface of heavy, clay-based soil, and a new head was needed to attack them. He was granted responsibility for budgeting and the long-term plan of action. There had been attempts to permanently solve the drainage problem before, but they were largely unsuccessful. When exploring it, he found that the drainage system was incomplete, in that the drains themselves didn’t go as far as they needed to, or end properly. Having used the usual


techniques as often as possible to stave off waterlogging, which appears to be working well, he now thinks he may be able to extend those drains to achieve that permanent solution: “That’s going to be our next major project, and will take up most of the budget. Once that’s sorted, we can start to think about whether other projects need doing.” In the meantime, the team


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PC APRIL/MAY 2017 I 89


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