FOOTBALL We currently spend
around four hours on the 3G pitch alone brushing and cleaning it. There is also a deep clean carried out on the pitch as required. The grass pitch is marked out and made ready for action on a weekly basis
”
the pitch outside, forcing the club to relocate.
The original Brandywell stadium was in
existence since the late 19th century and, in 2002, was voted among the UK’s top ten favourite sports venues by BBC Radio Five Live listeners.
Famous teams like Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester United have all played at the Brandywell, with players like Ronaldinho, Xavi, Iniesta and Gascoigne all tackling one of the old ground’s famous quirks. This was a slope at one end of the pitch which became quite famous among visiting teams but is now retracted to history with the new pitch formation. Amongst the works carried out as part of the Brandywell Regeneration Project, which cost seven million pounds, is a new 955 seater stand on the west side that runs for around half the length of the pitch. This new main stand also incorporates new changing rooms, media facilities, meeting spaces, safety control centre, along with standing accommodation for 270
spectators that increases total capacity of the ground to almost 4,000.
Spectators have unobstructed viewing of the action as the new stand has a tall cantilever roof with no roof supports. A set of four floodlights are also in place to enhance the views of late evening matches. The existing stand on the east side was completely refurbished with new seating added. This stand was originally opened in 1991 and contains around 2,700 mainly red plastic seats over eight rows. As well as the new stand, the project constructed a new synthetic turf pitch, a standalone dog track and additional car parking, as well as substantial improvement works across the stadium, including a new boundary wall.
A team of council operatives have the pleasure of looking after the new stadium, along with a number of other sporting arenas and parks in the council area. Heading up that team is Martin Parke as crew leader who has worked with the council for over twenty years.
Martin worked a number of positions, including at a bakery, before being offered the opportunity to get into the council following a government placement programme.
Martin said: “I entered the industry via a government placing after working for a period in a bakery. Later on, I attended Greenmount College in Antrim and completed the Level 3 horticulture and sportsturf management course there.” “Right now, I have access to a team of five operatives who help me look after the Brandywell Stadium and other sporting arenas within the council area. In turn, I report to the grounds maintenance supervisor,” said Martin. “We also have access to outside consultants and contractors when and if required, but this has not been necessary yet as the pitch is so new.”
Being a 3G pitch it needs some special maintenance techniques to ensure a top playing surface, which is also used by the local community and stakeholders.
68
PC October/November 2018
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