Winter Sports - Rugby Union GETTING Personal...
Iain Athersmith ‐ Big eater, big bodied and big beard
Who are you? Iain Athersmith, volunteer groundsman at Willenhall Rugby Club.
Family status? Married. Two kids from a previous marriage.
Who’s your hero and why? I don’t have those.
What would you change about yourself? Lose some weight.
What’s your guilty pleasure? Chocolate.
What’s been the highlight of your grounds career so far? Seeing my kids play with enthusiasm.
What are your pet peeves? Smokers leaving cigarette butts outside.
If you could go anywhere right now, where would it be? Switzerland, skiing.
What’s the best part of your job? Positive comments.
… and the worst? Negative comments from people who don’t contribute.
Do you have a lifetime ambition? To be happy. Favourite record, and why? Let It Be by The Beatles.
Who would you choose to spend a romantic evening with? Kylie [Minogue].
If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do? Go to Switzerland.
Which three people, living or dead, would you invite to a dinner party? Lawrence Dallaglio, John Lennon and Kurt Cobain.
If you could be anyone for a day, who would it be and why? Me.
Do you have any bad habits? Eating too much. ... or any good ones? No. Do you read? Only Pitchcare.
What’s the best advice you have ever been given? Purchase a compact tractor and a Quadraplay.
What’s your favourite smell? Coconut. What do you do in your spare time? Come here.
What three words would you use to describe yourself? Overweight. Big beard.
What talent would you like to have? Musical. Probably guitar.
What law/legislation would you like to see introduced? More statutory bank holidays.
96 I PC JUNE/JULY 2018
“Nobody wants to go and play rugby on a council pitch that’s full of dog muck. The quality of the grounds and facilities is what it’s all about.” There are land drains at the facility which Martyn has estimated to be a little over twenty years old. The club is considering whether to invest in a newer form of sports turf drainage. They have had the classic example of budget‐friendly, efficient drainage aids ‐ boreholes ‐ recommended to them and believe this will be the first step in the improvement process.
“They instructed us that we should have a couple of four‐foot boreholes drilled in and filled with 20mm gravel, which would help to focus the moisture into quicker‐draining areas.” One factor which naturally helps the moisture to drain away ‐ helpful in recent months ‐ is the abundance of wind. Martyn phrased it: “This is probably the windiest place in the world.”
Iain confirmed: “You can travel from wherever you want from within a mile’s radius of here in your shorts and t‐shirt and you will have to put a jumper on.” On a normal week during the season, Iain mows once per week to between 40‐50mm and, now the equipment is coming in, will be able to chain‐harrow and perhaps Quadraplay at the same frequency.
He also marks out the pitch every couple of games, and we’ve arranged for a 10‐litre complimentary tub of MAX‐LINE Platinum Pro linemarking paint to trial. He often marks out free‐
hand and said he’s at the pitch doing so by 6.00am some Sundays. Asked about end of season renovations, Iain said: “Having them done is the plan. I’d like it. I’d like the best rugby pitch in the area.” “That’s the goal, from my point of view. As long as I can convince the committee to spend money and I’ve got plans in place, that’s what I want to aim for.”
“This year is more difficult than most will be, because of the necessity for that much sand and seed. But, once that seed is growing, we won’t need as much next year.”
With all this money now focused rather than wasted, and spent in efficient ways, the club is showing its willingness to improve on all fronts. Alongside the pitch improvements is a carefully planned clubhouse renovation, which will involve moving the bar area, the kitchen and a few other sections. Naturally, this is a major expense.
It is to be undertaken in that same spirit of increasing membership numbers, increasing interest in the sport locally, and ensuring the club’s future survival and prosperity. Clearly, this is a surface which is improving to a level it hasn’t hit before, with the help of its first dedicated groundsperson and willing investment from the club; not just aimed at improving the state of the pitch but, more ambitiously, at the future of the club and rugby union in the area.
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