FOOTBALL
We are committed to
providing football in the community ‘for the
”
community’. With more than 330 girls and boys playing football for the club, Evesham has
achieved so much in such a short time
That’s not the end of the story though. With flooding of the nearby river Avon a persistent problem, plans are afoot to move Evesham Cricket Club here too, away from risk.
“It’s sited on the flood plain and sometimes is underwater for weeks on end,” Steve explains, “but we’re on level land, with no threat of flooding. That will involve creating a brand new cricket square and outfield out of agricultural land.” Upscaling of Evesham United’s headquarters is in keeping with its footballing aspirations. Topping the Evo Stik South and West Division One at the time of interview, the club is vying for promotion to the Evo Stik Premier Division. World Cup fever as England scaled the heights of achievement, coupled with wall to wall TV coverage these days, has propelled interest in the game amongst the young to unprecedented levels.
I mow both ways, up/down and across - our chairman Jim Cockerton loves his stripes - with the Toro
”
Reelmaster 2300D ride-on, which is smaller and lighter than the John Deere 3520 gang mower I use on the training and junior areas
92 PC October/November 2018
Evesham is taking full advantage as juniors activity swells under Director of Football Dave Giles. “Our twenty-four teams keep us pretty busy,” he states. “We run two weeks of trials in the summer, then invite juniors to join us.”
Proud to have gained Community Charter
Standard Club status, Evesham fields a first team, girls eleven, two under U18s teams and U7s to U16s junior teams, “We have grown into a large club in a small market town,” says Dave. “We are committed to providing football in the community ‘for the community’. With more than 330 girls and boys playing football for the club, Evesham has achieved so much in such a short time, thanks to the commitment from local people.” I catch up with Steve on the Friday before a busy couple of weekends’ fixtures. “I cut the stadium pitch on Monday ready for the U18s game in the evening and had fertilised it the previous week. The rain, then sun, gave the turf a growth spurt.” Gloucester City use the Jubilee Stadium as their base too and usually alternate fixtures with Evesham. “This weekend it’s us
on the Saturday and Gloucester on the Sunday in a Cup game, with the fixtures reversed next weekend.”
“I’ll walk the pitch on the Saturday, immediately after a game to check everything’s in order for the Sunday. If there is no fixture, then I’ll come in on Monday if the U18s are playing, or leave things until the Friday if the next action is the following Saturday.”
“I mow both ways, up/down and across - our chairman Jim Cockerton loves his stripes - with the Toro Reelmaster 2300D ride-on, which is smaller and lighter than the John Deere 3520 gang mower I use on the training and junior areas. Cut height has been raised to 35mm from 25mm formerly, since Gloucester City started playing here in 2007, after their old site kept flooding from the river.”
When you are a solo groundsman, time management is critical. “I have to prioritise my work,” says Steve. He talks regularly with sports contractor Mowtech, who come on site to complete the more major aspects of the maintenance programme. “We decided to switch brand of linemarking paint, allowing me to get away with remarking the stadium pitch every two weeks. The new grade is a brighter white and a little more expensive than that we use on the other pitches.”
Even divot repairs, done manually, take a goodly slice out of Steve’s schedule. “The main pitch is the priority. It’ll take me a full hour if there’s been only one game played, but two to three times that if I’m filling in after two fixtures.”
Now in its sixth season, the stadium pitch
gives Steve a few headaches, as he explains. “I plan pitch renovation for immediately after the last game of the season. We don’t Koro, but Mowtech verti- drain then blade slit the surface in the goalmouths, before reseeding and applying a light dusting of sand.”
The surface certainly needs refreshing after a heavy and intensive season of play on it. ”Twenty-two finals [Sunday League and
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