Viewpoint
“ “
I was asked if I’d help mark out the pitch for the start of 1972-73 season ... and I’ve been stuck with it since!
MartinWood’s pitches at Stokesley Sports Club “I had started playing for the club after
leaving university in 1971 and also moved into the village, and was asked if I’d help mark out the pitch for the start of 1972-73 season ... and I’ve been stuck with it since! Apart from Christopher, all other
participants stated that they had no previous experience before taking on their role.
Where have you gleaned your knowledge from? For example, have you undertaken any industry training, attended seminars and/or researched online?
“For me, it was a lifelong passion for cricket,” says Christopher, “and I always liked mowing the lawn. I learned a huge amount from the Pitchcare Forum - big thank you to Andy, Gordon, Eddy, et al - but soon realised that one has to digest the sometimes differing advice and work out what it means for you.” “I took the FA pitch maintenance course and did much online research,” commented Martin, whilst Colin said that most of his knowledge has been gleened from fellow groundsmen, online resources, seminars and on-the-job learning. Dave, meanwhile, did a lot of reading and
then attended a Pitchcare day course. “I’ve since been to a number of FA events and Campey Turf Care open days.”
Do you seek help from any outside sources; regional advisers, agronomists, forums etc.?
Dave is up first; “I have sought advice from professional groundsmen, suppliers, contractors and the FA regional adviser. We joined the FA’s Pitch Improvement Programme last year.” “I use online resources and forums,”
comments Colin. Similarly, Martin heads online for advice, but has also used the FA regional adviser and had soil samples taken. “I chat to anyone who will listen about
how to improve our grounds,” says Christopher, “and chat to our ECB pitch adviser from time to time. One of our grounds team plays Over 60s cricket during the week and he is always chatting to other groundsmen about how to improve things.”
Does your club/committee understand the importance of your role and are you well supported when it comes to budgets for machinery, sundries, renovations etc.?
David says that his committee is hugely supportive. “Managers and players accept decisions on pitch fitness without question, and there is support for the principle of prioritising the pitches for spending, but money is in short supply.”
“We’ve been able to buy, usually second hand, all the basic equipment we need - tractor, rotary mower, quadraplay, spiker - but money for renovations is hard to come by. Last season’s renovations budget disappeared when the tractor needed a new clutch at a cost of £2,700!” Martin’s position is somewhat different as he is also Chairman of Stokesley Sports Club and Chairman and a Coach of the junior football section. “Do the committee understand? Probably not, although the players and spectators appreciate a good playing surface, but don’t realise how much work is involved to produce one.” “I am also treasurer of the junior football section, so have a major ‘say’ in how the money is spent. That said, I also spend a fair bit of my own money as well.” “We have an excellent
committee,”comments Christopher. “Our current and previous chairs are/were both very good. I think they realise that we are fairly unusual, and fortunate, in that we have two good grounds looked after entirely by volunteers.” “Before I became involved, the grounds
were looked after on a shoestring. I have been able to convince people that we ‘must’
Managers and players accept decisions on pitch fitness without question, and there is support for the principle of prioritising the pitches for spending, but money is in short supply
Colin Mason’s Hertford Town FC pitch 14 I PC AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017
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