FOOTBALL
I used to walk seven miles to Corporation Park on
Peace Park Road, Blackburn to see Norman Thompson in the council offices, and ask if there were any positions available
SGL lighting rigs
of apprentice greenkeeper/groundsman. Soon after, he went to see Norman to ask what his options were for career progression, “I told Norman I wanted to go as far as I could in the industry and was really keen to learn.”
Norman explained to Roy that there were courses available, but nobody wants to go on them, but he could see that he was very keen. The only problem was he would have to travel to Myerscough College in Preston! “I went to college once a week for four years, plus there were four or five occasions when I had to go five days on the run. I had to catch the bus, but I was able to claim the fares back.”
During this time, Roy started to question if this career was for him. “As I got to the age of eighteen there were plenty of other distractions, but I started to gain a better understanding of the job, and I believe getting into this industry is one of the best decisions I ever made. I love the passion of the job and what I do. If there is one thing I’m good at it’s looking after grass.” One valuable lesson Roy learned from John Welsh, one of his colleagues and
the man who helped him whilst working with the council, was never to cut corners when doing a job; a lesson he has valued throughout his career. Once Roy had gained his qualifications, he was promoted to Head Groundskeeper overseeing the bowling greens and football pitches.
In 1990, Roy joined Blackburn Rovers who were looking for groundstaff to look after their new training ground at Brockhall village. After three months working for the club, he was made Head Groundsman, looking after the day to day running of the training ground’s three rootzone and two fibresand pitches with the help of three members of staff.
Then, in 2001, Manchester City were looking for a head groundsman who had experience in Fibresand constructed pitches. “I was quite lucky I had the experience at Blackburn with Fibresand pitches as, at the time, not many people had. In those days, people thought the grass was just grass, but there is a big difference between looking after a rootzone pitch and a Fibresand one.”
When Roy first moved to Manchester
I believe, with the right fertilisers, with the right chemicals at the right time and working with the weather we should be okay
58 PC February/March 2019
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