FSM
Feature
Working wonders at Wigan Athletic FC
Wigan Athletic FC’s grounds team had a short window for renovation this summer – due to playing host to Belgium women’s national team at its Christopher Place training ground during the UEFA Women’s European Championships, alongside Wigan Warrior’s usual early start to its playing season at the dual-use DW Stadium.
Nevertheless, grounds manager Ian Forshaw and his team of five managed to turn around exceptional playing surfaces at both venues in record time, thanks to Rigby Taylor’s R140 and Sports Field Renovation grass seed, plus a robust fertiliser programme from Origin Amenity Solutions.
Ian has developed an expertise in managing and installing various types of playing surfaces during his career and is a big supporter of Rigby Taylor products. Rigby Taylor are joined by Headland Amenity, Turf
Keeper.com and Symbio in making up Origin Amenity Solutions. He joined Wigan Athletic in 1998, from a background in horticulture, and worked his way up to Head Groundsman at the DW Stadium – managing dual-use surfaces for Wigan AFC and Wigan Warriors RLFC. Looking to further his skillset, he moved to County Turf in 2016, and gained experience in installing hybrid carpet systems at Real Madrid FC and Paris St Germain training grounds, as well as Croke Park, Gloucester Rugby, Leicester Tigers and Doncaster Knights – before moving back to a grounds role at Fylde FC.
Ian Forshaw at the Christopher Place training ground during the UEFA Women’s European Championship
R140 seed mixture is used on the SIS hybrid playing surface of Wigan’s AFS DW Stadium
“We noticed seed germination at the training ground in just four days and were pretty amazed to say the least,” Ian says. “I had full faith in Sports Field Renovation’s 50% blend of Tetraploid & Diploid Ryegrass seed, which I used for quick germination in the short six-week renovation window. The soil temperature was there and so was the moisture. We didn’t sheet any of the pitches it just came through naturally.”
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“During my spare time at Fylde, I helped Wigan with mowing and divoting, after they went into administration a couple of years ago, and when the club was able to take on a head groundsman I was asked to come back. It feels like I’ve come home,” he says.
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