TEAM PRAISE AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Adam is full of praise for his team, which he “couldn’t do it without,” with Russ Allison and Dan Hales at the stadium and James Randall, Ady Gooch, Matt Cartledge, Brad Richardson, Scott Codling, Ciaran Tipple, Debbie Hooks and Stephen Johnston at the training ground.

With them, he was able to quickly adjust when joining during the season and adapt to areas he’s less familiar with, such as the vegetable garden and beehives at Lotus Training Centre.

“When I came in, it was assessing everybody and then going from there,” Adam said. “Having a development plan for my staff, then to become the next skilled person, next first assistant, next deputy and next head. So, there’s a career path I’m building and working on, which is the futureproofing of the grounds department.”

“For me, it’s getting the team around to the way I like to work. Getting the numbers up, and we’re recruiting at the moment, and it’s then trying to sustain that team and keeping them here, and everything else will you missed out a lot on at home because you’re here and not just down the road.”

“When you’re here, you’re so consumed by the job that you forget a lot of stuff. Because your mind is so busy, and you’ve got your probation period, and you’ve got to prove your worth as well. And making sure you get on with the guys and getting your message across quickly and successfully as well.”

“When I finally sold my house in Reading and moved here, that was probably the first or second week of me moving in; that was when I felt at home for the first time.”

“But it’s finding that right balance. I’m a lot more comfortable and settled now than I’ve ever been since coming here fifteen months ago.”

Two of Adam’s main concerns when joining were the club backing him and the receptiveness of his team. But, in the fullness of time, they have turned out to be two reasons his time in East Anglia is going so well.

The use of Raw Stadia has eased the learning curve and stopped him from having to ‘go in blind’ on moisture and hardness readings to the benefit of the pitch at Carrow Road. Bringing in testing equipment early on was also a positive sign the club backed him, and that is something Adam appreciates isn’t always the case.

“They are very much a forward-thinking club, very professional throughout, and it’s a joy to be here,” Adam said. “I toured the club with my boss, Greg Pillinger, and it was clear then they actively invest in the facilities, and grounds are no exception. We have a great setup here and that’s a massive bonus for me”

“When I first arrived, it was all (renovations) planned, but the great thing about this club is everything was thought of, arranged and budgeted, and it’s really well run, which is brilliant.”

“It’s great because I’ve had the full backing of the executive committee as well, which was a great privilege. It’s an appreciation of what I’m doing, which is great, and I’m very happy about that because it doesn’t happen everywhere.”

“I’ve been very fortunate that the things I have put forward have been agreed, and it’s showing what I am trying to do here is really working. It’s a new challenge and a new project for me, and I’m enjoying it.”

Article by Blair Ferguson.

Emma Beggs Aquatrols Portfolio Manager - Europe