FOOTBALL


Also, I coach here, and I successfully took my under-eights up to


under-elevens, and we have won the league each year


Helping Ian look after the pitches is David Gallagher, an apprentice groundsman who previously worked for North Tyneside council. David is working towards his NVQ in Sportsturf and regularly has a college tutor visit him to check on his progress. Last year, he was runner up North Tyneside Apprentice of the Year.


The site covers fifteen acres which includes all the grass pitches mentioned previously, along with a new, full-size 3G


pitch. “The site was closed for nine months whilst the reconstruction of the pitches took place.”


All pitches have full drainage but, like many other sporting venues up and down the country, the club has struggled to get fixtures played. “Some people reckon we have issues with the drainage, but I don’t think so. We are no different to any other club at our level. We have had a lot of rain and, in all honesty, if they are wet, I will not


let them play on them. I am not going to have them wrecked unnecessarily. We are lucky enough to have a full size 3G, so we have played a lot of our games on there to ease the pressure on fixtures.” When the grass pitches are available for use, they must accommodate a lot of wear with training three nights a week and matches played on Saturday and Sunday. Ian talks me through the monthly maintenance of the 3G and grass pitches.


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The Terra Spike™ is renowned for speed, precision and easy operation. Welcome the SL at 470 kg our 11th and lightest yet. Specifically for greens and tees, it tines down to 220 mm making it twice the match of any shallow aerator. Pairs with tractors from 20 hp with lifting capacity of 600kg.


PC April/May 2020


57


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