FOOTBALL
We are keeping things simple and discovering what works and what doesn’t here and applying no fungicides if at all possible, preferring to adopt cultural practices and disease prevention
”
Self-Drive division, to complete the project. This comprised a GPS and laser guided dozer, low ground pressure dump trucks, AFT Whizz Wheel, Muratori stone burier, Shelton fast flow hopper, Raycam speed dresser, BLEC Rotor Rake, Koro Top Drain 1500, Dakota Turf Tender, BLEC Turfmaker seeder, CLS laser grader, Wiedenmann Terra Spike, Allett self-propelled cylinder pedestrian mower, Vredo super compact seeder and a Toro ProCore.
Maintenance
June deluges delivered a wet welcome for Dylan. “A super-wet month saw 250mm of rain fall - a baptism of fire for me, but we coped with it,” he says.
He has started how he means to go on.
“We are keeping things simple and discovering what works and what doesn’t here and applying no fungicides if at all possible,” he reveals, “preferring to adopt cultural practices and disease prevention.”
The ICL fertilisation programme runs at
key periods throughout the year. “I adapt applications to the weather. Given that the great and the good of Welsh football could be visiting Colliers Park at any time, grounds presentation is key, Dylan maintains. “It’s one of the most important parts of the job and that’s why team pride across the whole park at all times is crucial.” Both pitches are likely to have to withstand heavy use, he adds, so hardwearing cultivars are the name of the game. “A perennial ryegrass mix, which gives strong shoot density and wear characteristics, was specified. It establishes quickly, handy for overseeding too, with good root development.”
Not fast enough to avoid the ravages of local wildlife, however. “This is a semi-rural site,” Dylan explains. “Because birds and rabbits could disrupt germination, we have invested in covers to protect the seed until it shoots.”
Dylan cuts the men’s national training pitch at 22mm and irrigates it before every use. “Pitch 2 we cut to 24mm in summer and 26mm in winter to protect the plant and encourage harder wear. All grass lengths are discussed with coaches a week before they are used,” he adds.
A TDR350 FieldScout soil moisture meter monitors pitches. “We take thirty readings across the pitch, twice a day,” Dylan explains. From that data, he decides whether or not to irrigate. “Fifty-eight sprinklers are installed across the two pitches and training areas, and I control the Rain Bird system using their IQ platform, allowing me to activate everything from my phone or desktop.”
Pitch monitoring of both the two natural and the 3G pitches is important to ensure Colliers Park complies with FIFA and FAW regulations. “The Iseki tractor and GKB brush CLS Sports provided with the 3G are used after every ten hours of play,” says Dylan. “As the 3G pitch is FIFA Quality
60 PC October/November 2019
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