Also in this issue:
News .............................. 4 The Eyes have it .............. 8
Andy Gray, Southampton FC
Artificial Surfaces Life is short, Fake it!
Is anything that is ever a copy of something natural better than the original? Can natural things even be compared to their artificial counterparts or, should I say, counterfeits? Matt Frost enters the ‘artificial‘ debate. Pg50
Understanding maintenance responsibilities
The performance, durability and safety of an artificial sports pitch is intrinsically linked to the level of maintenance completed throughout its life, and understanding your maintenance responsibilities could go a long way to avoiding a costly court case. Pg54
Winter Sports Saints be praised!
With Southampton flying high in the Championship, their free flowing, passing game requires a good surface. Charged with providing that is Head Groundsman, Andy Gray, and his team of three. Pg62
Dale’s Diary
Coping with dual sports is never easy but, with a new pitch, new equipment and ‘new’ assistant, Phil Collinson, Head Groundsman at Rochdale’s Spotland Stadium is winning the battle to retain grass coverage. Pg66
Viewpoint
Our anonymous football league head groundsman, Mr AKA Grasscutter, offers some advice to youngsters wishing to get into the industry. Pg70
Schools and Colleges Eric’s not been idle!
After thirty years service to Bromsgrove School, Head Groundsman, Eric Burford, aims to retire later this year. Here, he talks about his time at the school and the improvements he has made during his tenure. Pg86
A matter of degrees
Neville Johnson heads to the University of Kent’s Canterbury campus to meet Paul Griffiths, the man whose job it is to see that the grounds always get a First. Pg92
Farmer Joe - happy as a pig in ...
Joe Cooper’s life at Milton Abbey School has evolved into much more than being a groundsman, and it’s a position he treasures. It’s not hard to see why, when you can work in beautiful surroundings in the peaceful Dorset countryside. Pg96
Equestrian Sandown Park - ready for anything!
Groundsmen at dual purpose race tracks often have to work hard to provide the ideal going for flat and national hunt meetings within the same season but, at Sandown, Estate Manager Craig Williamson and his team achieve this feat on the same day. Pg100
Eric Burford, Bromsgrove School
Summer Sports Ready to take on the world
Expectations are running high that the 2014 Commonwealth Games will mark the rebirth of lawn bowls in Scotland. All the signs are favourable that it will. Pg72
Perfection - and the better it is, the better!
How does the bowls greenkeeper attempt to meet the expectations of the club membership? In fact, how does he even know what those expectations are? Mark Allen seeks out the answers from two of the best bowls greenkeepers in the Birmingham area. Pg76
Thoughts for the winter
Another year entered, with thoughts on a blisteringly hot summer heavy on the mind. Then you pinch yourself back to reality and know you will settle for no rain on a Friday, but for some nice heavy rain about 8.30 on a Sunday evening. That’s not too much to ask for is it? Pg80
Smith family are rolling on...
After a lifetime spent collecting, servicing, repairing and renovating, there’s not much that Eric Smith doesn’t know about cricket rollers. Now, this enthusiastic ‘Fred Dibner’ of heavy machinery and champion of cricket club groundsmen has finally produced his own, radical model. Pg84
Technical Germination Summed Up
Seed germination is one of the most fundamental processes of nature. It is a source of immense debate on how to achieve optimum establishment when sowing grass seed mixtures. Pg104
Safety management of trees
Trees provide carbon sequestration, replenish oxygen, provide habitat for vertebrates and invertebrates and, when trees die, they can be utilised for various products. Pg106
Under the cover of darkness
Normally carried out under the cover of darkness, away from prying eyes, revetting pot bunkers has been a closely guarded secret passed down through generations of greenkeepers. Pg110
Sand - making the right decision
Choosing the right sand can be a huge decision. Graeme King, Managing Director of leading sports sands supplier Hugh King & Co, reveals some of the key factors to consider. Pg112
The anatomy of a golf course -
Fairways The fairway is the glue of the golf course holding all other elements together, and becomes the target point for the golfer if the green is not in sight or range. Pg116
Given much thought to your red diesel lately?
The fact that the specification for red diesel (BS2869:A2 gas oil) changed significantly in January last year passed many people by, including, it has to be said, many regular users. Pg119
Cost of spraying .......... 140 Chafer Grubs .............. 142 Turf side up .................. 144
National Memorial Arboretum .................. 136 Hard times .................. 138
Thoughts on training .... 126 Pitchcare training ........ 128 Frank Newberry .......... 130 History of covers............ 132 Now that’s magic ........ 134
Turf Tip.......................... 115 Monthly Diaries ............ 122
The Keynote Interview .... 10
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