CONTENTS Meet the
Pitchcare team
DAVE SALTMAN Managing Director
t: 01902 440 254 e:
dave@pitchcare.com
JOHN RICHARDS Operations Director
t: 01902 440 256 e:
john@pitchcare.com
Issue 89 February/March 2020 COVER STORY: All by myself
KERRY HAYWOOD Editor
t: 07973 394 037 e:
kerry@pitchcare.com PETER BRITTON
Advertising & Production t: 01952 898 516
e:
peter@pitchcare.com
Meridian Sports & Social Club lies just a stone’s throw across the Thames from London City airport, the O2 in Greenwich and the Thames Barrier, and only ten miles from the centre of London. Head Groundsman, Tony Provan, has had his fair share of ups and downs in his career so far, much of it of his own making. P82
GOLF Moor’s the merrier! CAROL SMITH
Grounds Training t: 01902 440 251
e:
info@groundstraining.com
LEE WILLIAMS Editorial
t: 07375 419 442 e:
lee.williams@pitchcare.com
Saddleworth Golf Club is an 18-hole, par 71, 6196 yards parkland/moorland course. Close to the Pennine Way, the course occupies the northern and eastern slopes of Wharmton Hill. Lee Williams went to meet 36-year old Head Greenkeeper David Roberts. P14
When two worlds collide
Pitchcare went back to Long Ashton Golf Club to catch up with Course Manager, James Braithwaite to discuss the club’s latest project involving Bristol City Football Club and much more. P26
Fairley normal!
ALASTAIR BATTRICK IT Manager
t: 01902 440 255 e:
alastair@pitchcare.com DAN HUGHES
Sales & Marketing t: 01902 440 258
e:
sales@pitchcare.com
No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission of the publisher. All rights reserved. Views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. Editorial contributions are published entirely at the editor’s discretion and may be shortened if space is limited. Pitchcare make every effort to ensure the accuracy of the contents but accepts no liability for its consequences. Images are presumed copyright of the author or Pitchcare unless otherwise stated.
Pitchcare Magazine is printed by the Gemini Press, Dolphin Way, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex BN43 6NZ
Pitchcare.com Allscott Park, Allscott, Telford Shropshire TF6 5DY
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editor@pitchcare.com
www.pitchcare.com 2
PC February/March 2020
Scarborough North Cliff Golf Club sits atop the cliffs of the Yorkshire town’s North Bay. The views from the coastal holes are splendid, with Scarborough Castle a feature. Lee Williams sat down with Course Manager Colin Fairley to discover more about this long-serving greenkeeper, his working practices and his current frustrations. P34
Crawford’s a cracker!
Northern Ireland’s Clandeboye Golf Club boasts two 18-hole courses situated in the idyllic surroundings of Lady Dufferin’s Estate. Chris McCullough met with Course Manager Terry Crawford to find out more about life in this rather ‘soggy’ region of the UK. P44
SPECIAL FEATURE
The real horror story Why cover children’s sports fields in products that can harm their health? And why does the Government do nothing about it? David Hedges-Gower wants some answers. P12
WINTER SPORTS Football to the Samba Beat
The recent FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Brazil was the eighteenth edition of the competition. For the restructured FIFA pitch team, led by their Pitch Management Manager, Alan Ferguson, this was the fourth tournament in just under a year and the first international competition to be held outside Europe. P52
Calling the Shots!
The Hampshire town of Aldershot is the ‘Home of the British Army’. The garrison, plus a wider urban population of 243,000, ensures that the local football team regularly attracts crowds in excess of 4,000, one of the highest in the National League. Currently ‘comfortably mid- table’, the club’s ambition to return to the EFL is aided by Head Groundsman James Smith. P60
Buttar earning his bread!
In September 2019, Jim Buttar stepped into Twickenham for the first time as the Rugby Football Union’s Head Groundsperson – the man in charge of the iconic Twickenham Stadium. Blair Ferguson went to meet him. P68
Their cup runneth over!
For Shrewsbury Town, an extended FA Cup run, which saw them host Liverpool at home, added to the problems for Dave Saltman and the grounds team. But with the likelihood of more money for the coffers, even the odd pitch invasion can be tolerated. P68
Tony Provan, Meridian Sports Club
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