RUGBY Getting Personal
Daniel Connor - I think we all wish hangovers would get put into Room 101
Who are you? Daniel Connor - Assistant Head Groundsman at Leeds Rhinos and Groundsman at Stanningley SARLFC.
Family status. Single.
Who’s your hero and why? My grandad - he took me under his wing and put me on the path to groundsmanship.
What’s been the highlight of your grounds career so far? To work for almost ten years in the industry and be a part of a grounds team that won an IOG Award.
If your younger self saw you now, what would he think? Proud to be privileged enough to work for a great employer, with great people.
Which famous people wind you up? There’s always a bit of banter between the players but I would also say Piers Morgan winds me up too.
What job would you love, other than your own? I would be a fireman (not that I’d be any good at it).
What was the most embarrassing moment in your life? Falling over at the Playhouse in front of a load of people.
What is your favourite film? Jaws and Indiana Jones.
What scares you? Heights really get me.
What is your favourite sport? Rugby League. I have some great memories of away days and success over the years.
What would you cast into Room 101? Hangovers.
Which historical time and place would you most like to visit? Chernobyl.
Do you have a lifetime ambition? I’ve always wanted to run a marathon.
64 PC June/July 2020
Which three people, living or dead, would you invite to a dinner party? Peter Kay, Blake Lively and Alan Shearer.
What’s the best advice you have ever been given? The grass isn’t always greener on the other side (pardon the pun).
What’s your favourite smell? A BBQ on a summer’s day.
Which three albums would you take to a desert island? Oasis, Calvin Harris and Skepta.
What’s the daftest
work-related question you have ever been asked? You only have to cut grass don’t you?
What’s your favourite piece of kit? Cub Cadet Infinicut - the quality of cut and finish is above anything else.
What three words would you use to describe yourself? Trustworthy, thoughtful and passionate.
What is the single most useful thing you could tell a 16-year-old groundsperson/ greenkeeper? Don’t let things outside work have an affect on you in the workplace.
What talent would you like to have? Professional sportsman.
What law/legislation would you like to see introduced? People to abide by keep off the pitch signs.
“I will try and save money wherever I can, e.g. if possible, I will try and make our annual renovation stretch over two years instead of one. I also have Ryan supporting me so we can discuss things together and make decisions, so the club trust in what we say needs to be done.”
The stadium pitch is made up of a 70/30 rootzone on top of a gravel bed, which means the pitch drains really well. “Even after a heavy downpour, within an hour it just goes straight through it. This is the reason we had to install the irrigation system - we were getting to the end of May and it was just turning into a dust bowl.”
The club has a full set of frost covers to enable first- team games to go-ahead. The whole club gets involved when the covers need to go
on, from volunteers to coaching staff and players. “Once, we even had the players from Leeds Rhinos come and help as they coach the first team, which was good.” Dan talks me through general maintenance of the Arthur Miller Stadium pitch. “I have a John Deere 2653A triple mower set at a height of 35mm and a Kubota B2410 with a rotary deck set at 38mm. In summer, I prefer to use the triple - cutting the pitch at least three to four times a week. However, if we have a big game coming up, I will cut every day and also double- cut on the day of the game. In winter, I will cut using the Kubota and rotary deck with the GreenTek 8’ drag brush attached. I also use this in summer to disperse some of the debris caused by the triple. In between cutting, I will go
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