FOOTBALL Getting Personal
Paul Bowden - he doesn’t like people who conduct interviews! Hmmm ...
Who are you? Paul
Bowden. Vice Chairman and Groundsman at St. Blazey AFC.
Family status. Partner Toni and two daughters; Ellie and Aimee.
Who’s your hero and why? My dad.
What’s been the highlight of your grounds career so far? Coming runner-up in the Cornwall FA Groundsman of the Year 2018/19 season.
If your younger self saw you now, what would he think? What happened to your hair?
Which famous people wind you up? People who conduct interviews after football matches. They ask the most pointless questions.
What job would you love, other than your own? Full-time groundsman working outdoors.
What is your favourite film? Any Die-Hard film or the Inbetweeners movies.
What scares you? Snakes. No need for them.
What would your
autobiography be called… and who would play you in the film? Working hard. No idea who would play that role.
What are your favourite sports? Football, snooker and pool.
What would you cast into Room 101? VAR!! What a way to to ruin football.
Which historical time and place would you most like to visit? The 50s and 60s to see the massive crowds at non- league football matches.
Do you have a lifetime ambition? Live a long and healthy life.
66 PC August/September 2020
Which three people, living or dead, would you invite to a dinner party? Bobby Robson, Brian Clough and Neil Warnock. All great characters.
What’s the best advice you have ever been given? Never give up.
What’s your favourite smell? A warm pasty.
Which three albums would you take to a desert island? I’m not a big fan of any particular album! Let’s hope Google Play music works on the island.
What’s the daftest work- related question you have ever been asked? Do you work here? I’m stood there in full uniform.
What’s your favourite piece of kit? The cylinder mower.
What three words would you use to describe yourself? Keen, motivated and enthusiastic.
What is the single most useful thing you could tell a 16-year-old groundsperson/ greenkeeper? Whatever equipment you have, aim for the perfect surface. Do the best you can.
What talent would you like to have? More knowledge of groundsmanship and general building.
What law/legislation would you like to see introduced? The police need to be able to deal with antisocial behaviour strongly.
we can apply for seventy percent of the total cost of the machine, but we must find the other thirty percent. Obviously, at the moment with everything that has gone on, there is not much money in the pot.” Paul is also grateful for the support and advice he gets from David Bevan, Technical Sales Representative for Agrovista Amenity. “I like to pick Dave’s brain every time he visits us. He helps improve my knowledge which, in turn, can only benefit the pitch. It would be great if we had the budget to have a fertiliser programme put together. Still, for now, we apply two slow-release
applications of fertiliser a season which seems to keep us going.”
In the past, the club has been able to invest in new/ second-hand machinery. With every passing season, it is becoming more costly to repair and service their existing equipment. “The main mower we have was bought new sixteen years ago, and some of the other little ride-on mowers we have are second-hand. We have them done up, service them every season and just try to get the best out of them. If we need a small rotary, we will look at Facebook and eBay. Just recently, we picked up two
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