MULTI-SPORTS
That’s all good, because it means the surface always looks great. I mean: you could have the worst
”
ground in the world, but when you put a few stripes on it, kids will think it’s great
the year: the bowling and cricket plans are made around the end of August; the football is planned in late spring; (naturally, ad hoc duties also exist. For example, they’re about to purchase a new watering system). For the same reasons, the renovations on all sports tend to be spread out. Football has some quick work done around May, with more at intervals with schedule gaps. Along with a host of other reps who help the team with their agronomy, Chris Knowles from ALS provides such support via testing, especially on the bowling green. Other contractors support the other sports. Steve Birks from Trent Bridge advises Rob too. “I always get two or three quotes from that selection of companies when we need something done,” Rob said. “I don’t find there’s much price difference between fertilisers and seed etc., but all of those contractors are helpful, which is the important thing.” “We use a lot of liquid fertiliser, because we’ve no irrigation here. The square has a ring drain, though, which runs southward towards the River Meden, a tributary of the River Trent.”
“The only problems we get are related to the clay content, but it’s all counteracted.
Facilites at the John Fretwell Sporting Complex
Two full size cricket grounds 6 lane outdoor grass practice area Two lane artificial pitch practice area
Two full size football pitches and two mini football pitches
6 rink bowling green including a designated changing room
A purpose built to ECB specification indoor cricket centre featuring four state of the art video cameras and bowling machines available for hire
Four large changing rooms 60 PC August/September 2018
The football fields are sand-based up top and there are drains on that side of the site too.”
“In addition to the verti-draining of the football field and cricket squares - that’s perhaps every three weeks, down to a depth of about ten inches, we’ve previously used the Earthquake.” “We had no problem using it in the winter, although I think it probably risks cracking the surface if you were to use it when it’s dry.” The cricket outfield is cut to 16mm, with a 12mm square punctuated by 6mm wickets. The square is prepared with a Dennis G860, the wicket with an Allett Shaver and the outfield with the Hayter. “We’ve got a full flat sheet if we need it and some form of coverage for all of the square. If we know it’s going to rain, we’ll always cover up.”
“On an average Monday, we’ll clean the
wickets from the Sunday and cut the bowling green. If the outfield wants cutting, or the football fields, we’ll get that done. It’s mostly to do with which sport is being used more at the time.” “We don’t get pests or disease. We get weeds, but we’ve got the resources to spot- spray them - and, of course, hand-pick them
- whenever they appear, so they never stay for long.” “That’s all good, because it means the surface always looks great. I mean: you could have the worst ground in the world, but when you put a few stripes on it, kids will think it’s great.”
“But, I prepare it for the players. With Notts, our main priority is to keep them coming and playing here. They come here because it’s a good pitch.” “We’re discussing the possibility of becoming a more frequently used outground for four-day games, plus for the advent of this new 100-ball form of cricket.” “We’ve got to stay competitive too, because you’ve only got to look at the grounds around the country to see how much pitches have improved. Come the end of a season, many look like they haven’t even been played on.”
“I think they’re being invested in more, which is the key. When you see a Test ground like Trent Bridge on TV these days, where the ECB have had input, the state of them is quite amazing.” Robert concludes by telling me that his
son, Louis, has followed him into the industry. He now works at Worksop College.
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