CONTENTS Contents
NorthWest Powerhouse SPECIAL FEATURE
The youth of today eh!
The departure of Tranmere Rovers head groundsman left the Prenton Park pitch being maintained by two teenagers. But, as Lee Williams discovers, the two lads are both competent and ambitious to succeed. P68
A bit of a Deva!
Chester Football Club are currently members of the Vanarama National League North, the sixth tier of English football. The club was founded in 2010 following the winding-up of Chester City. Lee Williams chats to Head Groundsman Michael Barrow about life at the Deva Stadium. P74
In the Nick of time!
Curzon Ashton Football Club is a semi- professional association football club based in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester. Founded in 1963 and nicknamed “the Nash”, the club is affiliated to the Manchester Football Association and currently competes in the Vanarama National League North, the sixth tier of English Football. P80
Dual battle
It’s the middle of October 2018 and the sun is shining, which is rare for Rochdale at this time of year. The temperature is around thirteen degrees and Lee Williams, on his first assignment for Pitchcare, is at the Crown Oil Arena to meet up with Rochdale AFC Head Groundsman Niall Hazlehurst. P88
MULTI SPORTS An atomic fusion
Culcheth Sports Club, near Warrington in Cheshire, provides a wide range of sporting and social activities for the local community. A former Department of Atomic Energy sports club, it is now a not for profit facility. Lee Williams met up with their groundsman Ian Trantum to find out how he manages the four acre multi-sports site. P96
RUGBY No ifs or Butts...
After an interlude at nearby Coundon Road, Coventry RUFC returned to Butts Road Stadium in 2003, back to where it was founded in 1874. Now plans are in the offing that could transform the stadium to a state of the art sporting and conference venue, complete with an artificial grass pitch. Jane Carley meets Head Groundsman Eric Richardson to discuss developments. P102
King of the Castle
Doncaster Rugby Football Club’s first XV are known as the “Doncaster Knights”, and play in the RFU Championship. Being the most promoted side in English history has led to massive changes at the Castle Park ground and within the team structure. Lee Blagden explains all to Lee Williams. P106
EQUESTRIAN Racing thrives in its natural habitat
Jane Carley discusses the pioneering work being undertaken with padded hurdles at Exeter Racecourse with Clerk of the Course Barry Johnson and Head Groundsman Martin O’Hagan. So successful have they been, they have also been introduced into Wincanton Racecourse. But, there is much more going on at this West Country track. P112
PUBLIC PLACES Unveiling the hidden gem
For years the official Royal family residence in Northern Ireland, Hillsborough Castle in County Down, remained closed to the general public due to security concerns. When eventually the doors were opened to visitors, the clientele were said to be of the ‘greying generation.’ Chris McCullough visited the historic estate to investigate plans to transform the site into a visitor attraction appealing to a wider audience. P116
TECHNICAL Progress and importance
Lee Williams looks at progressions in aeration and offers a timely reminder of why it remains such an important procedure in the turf maintenance programme. P132
Delivery and Installation
Nigel Church, Product Trainer with Cutting Edge Training, looks at at machinery delivery and installation, and says there is more hard work involved in getting the sale, arranging the delivery and completing the installation correctly than you might have thought. P136
TRAINING Holme help
Pastoral care for prisoners plays a key part of Andy Flanagan’s day managing the gardens and grounds team in HMP Holme House, as Greg Rhodes reports. P140
‘Never Complain, Never Explain’
Grounds Training Trainer Frank Newberry has always been fascinated by the maxim ‘never complain, never explain’. This advice is believed, by many, to be the UK Royal Family’s strategy for dealing with difficult situations. Frank wonders if we can extend the notion to dealing with the tricky situations we sometimes face, perhaps at work or in life in general. P148
Also in this issue Editorial
News
CONSERVATION Cultural heritage
Old age provides few consolations, but that my loyal Labrador cross Collie, Sidbury, is becoming increasingly deaf has made one aspect of our winter walks more bearable: he has never liked loud noises, so the period between bonfire night and the end of the shooting season has, until recently, been a cause of distress. Pitchare Technical Manager, John Handley reports. P126
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A New Maintenance Direction? 150 Waxwings
Winter sports surface Product News Offside
The Holme House team l-r: Les Gray, Terry Mallerby, Derek Pears, Jeff Wingfield, Colin Steer and Andrew Flanagan
Diary and Quotes
152 154
156-158 160 IBC
PC December/January 2019 3
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