Grounds Management - November 2020 Preview

Making sport possible

CLEAN BREAK

How Seaton Bowling Club used the lockdown to renovate its green

COMMUNITY SPIRIT Rescuing a flood-hit cricket ground

SALTEX NEWS

Show postponed until November 2021

GMA BOARD REPORT A year of challenge, change and opportunity

November 2020 | £4.00

GROUNDS MANAGEMENT

TURF ON CENTRE STAGE TV filming helps pay for pitches

NOVEMBER 2020

WELCOME We will bounce back Covid-19 knows no boundaries and, after initially postponing this year’s SALTEX to Spring 2021, we have now taken the decision to move it to November 2021. It’s a decision that has not been taken lightly (see page 7) and we now move forward with a renewed focus on staging the 75th edition of SALTEX on 3 and 4 November 2021.

Of course, everything the GMA does is impacted by the financial success of the show but, despite the challenges presented by missing a year of SALTEX income, we have successfully re-aligned and invested in our learning and training offerings by, for example, recently launching the Level 2 online training course to complement the Level 1 course that more than 600 people signed up to earlier this year.

In addition, we continue to push the case for our sector whenever we can; our new communications strategy is paying dividends with more stories than ever shining a light on the excellent work carried out by both volunteers and professionals.

We continue to adapt to the industry’s needs, and we have listened to and are acting upon the feedback of our membership survey while continuing to strive to do better in support of our members.

We have some exciting plans and we look forward to making 2021 a year when we can once again celebrate at the NEC this wonderful industry and the people and businesses within it. It is currently a tough time for everyone, but we will bounce back.

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REGULARS

FEATURES

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Industry news News from the GMA and around the industry

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SALTEX update The industry’s key event moves to November 2021

Community football The Durham FA Grounds Team of the Year, Gateshead Cleveland Hall FC, on making pitches pay

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GaNTIP update Community spirit and hard work helped revive a flood-hit cricket ground in Yorkshire

Best practice: Seaton Bowling Club A fresh start for the Devon green

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GMA Board Report A year of challenge, change and opportunity

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Technical update: Back to basics – fertilisers A concise guide to grass plant nutrition

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In action Products from BLEC, Dennis, Campey Turf Care and Limagrain

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Product showcase Estate management tools, and drainage products and services

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Grow with the GMA Phil Fifield on making the most of the lockdown period to further his training

This magazine is printed using paper from responsible sources

GROUNDS MANAGEMENT Geoff Webb Chief Executive Grounds Management Association

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Editorial address: 28 Stratford Office Village, Walker Avenue, Wolverton Mill East, Milton Keynes MK12 5TW | t:01908 312511 GMA membership and general enquiries: t:01908 312511 | e:membership@thegma.org.uk Magazine subscriptions: Jo Cornford | t:01908 312511 | e:accounts@thegma.org.uk Subscriptions: £72 UK | £82 Europe | £112 rest of world Published by: James Pembroke Media ■ Editor: Colin Hoskins | e:editor@thegma.org.uk | t:07785 293077 Publisher: James Houston ■ Product editor: Lizzie Hufton | e:lizzie.hufton@jamespembrokemedia.co.uk | t:01225 337777 Head of design: Simon Goddard ■ To advertise in this magazine: t:020 3859 7097 | e:sales@jamespembrokemedia.co.uk

GROUNDS MANAGEMENT is published monthly by the Grounds Management Association. All material is copyright of the Grounds Management Association and may not be reproduced without permission. The publishers do not accept responsibility for any advertisement appearing in the journal and cannot be held liable for editorial omissions or errors. The views expressed in the journal are not necessarily those of the Grounds Management Association.

thegma.org.uk | GROUNDS MANAGEMENT 3

UPDATE

UPDATE | NEWS

NEWS IN BRIEF

THE LATEST HEADLINES FROM GMA AND THE INDUSTRY

Ian has looked after the turf at Abbey Stadium for 42 years

AWA R D

Cambridge United groundsman given BEM in Queen’s Birthday Honours IAN DARLER, stadium manager and groundsman at Cambridge United Football Club, has been awarded a British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list 2020, for his services to the club and to Cambridge Charity Fundraisers.

Ian, who has been groundsman at the Abbey Stadium for 42 years, said: “I’m blown away. I feel really honoured, especially in the current circumstances. Having so many friends who work in the NHS, I think they are the sort of people you feel should be getting these awards.”

Ian was the youngest head

How to beat equipment theft

groundsman in the Football League when he first started work for the club and his career there has also included roles as stadium manager and matchday safety officer. He has written a book about his time at the club, Life’s a Pitch, published in 2019. Away from the ground, he set up the Cambridge Charity Fundraisers in 2007, benefitting charities including Fresh Water Projects, England Amputees football team, Hinchingbrooke Special Care Baby Unit, East Anglia Children’s Hospices, Cancer Research UK and more.

With an increasing number of reports of equipment theft, the GMA has issued these top tips to help keep equipment safe.

items. When selecting chains and padlocks, always look out for a ‘sold secure’ mark of approval. Garage or security cabinets keep equipment hidden; ground anchors can be useful for large items.

Mark up and lock up Mark items with a unique code or name to help identify stolen

Additional safety If you have a lockable location, a garage defender adds extra

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security. Immobilisers are recommended for tractors, for example, and you can also register equipment on immobilise.com.

Security cameras are beneficial; even dummy cameras can help deter criminals.

Be vigilant If you are offered secondhand kit, check

Kubota appoints new dealer in Scotland HRN Tractors has become a full-line dealer for Kubota in Scotland, with products available for depots in the region north of Dundee. Hamish Bruce, dealer principal of HRN Tractors, said: “We believe that Kubota has massive potential for market growth in Scotland, and that HRN and Kubota have a very bright future together.” www.kubota-eu.com

Club Brugge plans new stadium Club Brugge, the Belgian football team based in Bruges, has unveiled plans for a new €100m stadium, designed by architects B2Ai and SCAU. The venue will seat 40,000 fans and will replace the club’s current home, the 29,000 capacity Jan Breydel stadium. The design includes a single-tier 12,000 capacity stand for home fans, designed to create a “wall of sound”.

British Sugar Topsoil supports HighGround British Sugar Topsoil will be supporting the charity HighGround by donating £1 for every bulk bag of its topsoil sold from September 2020 to September 2021. HighGround works to improve the wellbeing and employment prospects of serving military personnel and veterans through horticulture, and British Sugar Topsoil has previously supported the charity’s work informally through donations of topsoil. www.bstopsoil.co.uk

where it has come from and look out for signs of unusual damage, such as marks from locks forcefully removed.

A tell-tale sign of stolen machinery can be if attachments are mismatched. Ask the seller where the item was purchased, and for any original documentation.

Use local networks Contact police community officers for advice, as well as other clubs in the area which may have had similar issues. Contact a Grounds and Natural Turf Improvement Programme regional pitch advisor to make a broader range of contacts aware of thefts.

SALTEX UPDATE

KEEP IN TOUCH SALTEX 2021 will take place on November 3 & 4, 2021 at the NEC, Birmingham. For more information, visit www.gmasaltex.co.uk. Follow SALTEX on Twitter and Facebook

SALTEX moves to November 2021

Chris Bennett SALTEX press officer

Due to mounting pressure from the global coronavirus pandemic, the Grounds Management Association has taken the decision to move SALTEX to November 3 & 4, 2021, from its planned 2021 Spring dates T HE G ROUNDS M AN AGEM EN T ASSOCI AT ION (GMA) has been strategically planning for every eventuality to ensure SALTEX is a bio-secure event, in partnership with the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) and internationally-recognised professional events bodies. However, ongoing Government restrictions and local and national lockdowns, as well as rising cases of coronavirus, have highlighted the immediate challenges to stage a successful event in March 2021.

This decision to move SALTEX to November 3 and 4, 2021 has factored in recent analysis from both exhibitor and visitor surveys, as well as discussions with relevant parties.

When visitors were asked about their date preferences, November was the first option. In addition, an overwhelming majority (80%) stated that attending an indoor trade show was their preference.

Geoff Webb, CEO at the GMA commented: “As hard as this decision was to make, we knew it was important to act quickly and responsibly so we can begin looking to the future and stage a successful event once restrictions ease again.

We have recently seen confidence eroding despite early optimism.

“Our recent surveys have given us excellent insight from both exhibitors and visitors, providing evidence that reflects current circumstances so we can continue planning an event that best reflects the turf care sector’s requirements.

“The majority of our respondents expressed high confidence levels in attending indoor trade shows and we can see that there is still a huge appetite going forward – we are already looking ahead to what

is required for what will be the 75th milestone edition of SALTEX in November 2021.”

Exhibitors have the option to carry over their March 2021 booking to the November show at a preferential rate and retaining their stand location. There is also the added option to secure a two-year SALTEX loyalty deal for those transferring their booking, with improved benefits for GMA Corporate Plus members.

Alternatively, exhibitors due to showcase in March 2021 can apply for a full refund in writing.

Geoff continued: “Despite the circumstances, and a future where Covid will always be present, we are really touched by the number of exhibitors that have expressed they are on this journey with us and wish to be part of SALTEX at the

next possible opportunity. We are determined to help contribute to the growth – and celebrate the sector – albeit at a later date in 2021.”

Luke Perry, director of SALTEX and Events for the GMA, added: “We have worked hard to reflect changing situations. We intend to maintain this regular, frequent communication going forward while continuing to analyse how our sector feels about events in general.” ■

For SALTEX sales and sponsorship: Matthew Knight: matthewknight@rabdf.co.uk Charles Neale: charlesneale@rabdf.co.uk Luke Perry: lperry@thegma.org.uk For SALTEX invoicing enquires: Alan Clarke: accounts@thegma.org.uk

thegma.org.uk | GROUNDS MANAGEMENT 7

GaNTIP UPDATE DURING COVID-19

Community spirit in cricket Bridgeholme Cricket Club in Todmorden has for many years battled with flooding but, in February 2020, storm Ciara wreaked havoc – damaging everything in its path. But the cricket community rallied round to re-instate the picture-perfect Yorkshire site where recreational cricket continues to thrive

DESCRIBING THE AFTERMATH of storm Ciara, Bridgeholme CC’s groundsman Keith Hudson spoke about how “sand, silt and sludge were everywhere, and rubbish including bricks and boulders were all over the place”. Around 90 per cent of the ground was covered in silt and debris. But just like after the 2015 floods, Keith and his team of volunteers harnessed their passion and commitment to recover the site.

Repair work started in the middle of February with the removal of silt and sand from the square but, within a week, another flood occurred. Repairs restarted once the water had subsided, and this included removing the rubble from the damaged river wall (constructed after the 2015 floods in an attempt to prevent another flooding). All this, however, caused more short-term damage across the ground – to be subsequently repaired by the team. But then Covid-19 hit, so Keith continued the repairs on his own.

Using a borrowed mini digger, he learned how to scrape the silt up while also clearing away the debris then digging down below ground level ready for the wall to be rebuilt (by a bricklayer with Keith as his labourer). During this time, Keith continued to undertake his grounds management tasks of maintaining the square and outfield.

It took five weeks to complete the wall – which now incorporates seating and flower beds – and, by the start of August, the ground looked outstanding. With Covid-19

The hard work of groundsman Keith Hudson and the community has revitalised the ground

preventing any play, Keith then set about renovating the square and outfield ready for the 2021 season.

The club was assisted by funding from the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB), Sport England, the Yorkshire Cricket Board and a crowd fundraising scheme.

I first met Keith in 2015, following the floods of that year, and I have regularly been in contact and offered advice whenever required as part of my ECB/Grounds and Natural Turf Improvement Programme role. What I have seen over the years at the club makes it clear that Keith and his fellow volunteers are inspirational and are proof of the spirit and sense of community that is forever present in recreational cricket. ■

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Ian Mather-Brewster Key account manager (ECB) & North West regional pitch advisor (cricket)

Visit www.thegma.org.uk for details of the Grounds & Natural Turf Improvement Programme

BEST PRACTICE | COMMUNITY FOOTBALL

INVESTIGATING NEW WAYS TO MAKE PITCHES PAY Andy Carmichael Freelance writer

While the acclaim of being the current holder of the Durham FA Grounds Team of the Year reflects the passion and expertise of the volunteer grounds team at Gateshead Cleveland Hall FC, their role at the club also embraces negotiations with television production companies and hospital directors to bring in much-needed extra revenue to the club T HE CAR PAR K at Gateshead Cleveland Hall is full of trucks, catering vans and people familiar with cameras.

The location is being used for filming of the new series of the ITV crime drama Vera, and everywhere is a hive of socially-distanced activity. It is all very interesting but, for me, the arresting sight is the adjacent football pitches. Looking particularly photogenic in the Autumn sunshine, it would be a crime not to put them to good use but, at the time of my visit, their use is still uncertain.

After lockdown ended the season early, football resumed at Cleveland Hall a few weeks ago, only to be cut short again by local coronavirus restrictions.

The people managing the seven natural turf surfaces and newly replaced 3G training pitch are the Durham FA Grounds Team of the Year – Bob Boustead, John Nesbitt and Fred Elliott. Committed volunteers (everyone at Cleveland Hall gives their time for free), the three veterans of football grounds management have racked up the best part of a century of combined years of service. Bob, who also serves as club president, is grateful for The Football Association’s recognition of their efforts, hoping it will help people appreciate why he spends so much time emphasising the need to balance pitch use with recovery and renovation time.

They are no strangers to awards here though: Cleveland Hall has been named FA Community Club of the Year twice, recognised with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary

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Service and seen Bob appointed MBE thanks to his personal commitment to providing voluntary service to young people in the North East.

Having been in existence since 1955, the club has been at its current home – the site of a former secondary school – since 1999. In the years since, it has been the grounds team’s goal to continually improve the standard of the pitches for the 26 teams of players from under seven to 17 years old. The importance of having quality facilities to drive participation has been well documented and that the club has recently added three girls’ teams to the roster highlights its success at this. Three five-a-side ‘mini soccer’ pitches lie alongside two seven-a-side ones, with two full-sized surfaces also hosting the markings for nine-a-side contests. Multiple pitch markings are familiar to many as the nation’s already hard-worked facilities are pressed into service for an increasing number of sports and age groups.

Professional approach The pitches are maintained at 40mm in the winter and with no means of watering in the summer, the team is careful not to leave the grass overly stressed. A single fertiliser is usually applied in Spring, in line with soil analysis results. While keenly aware of the materials budget, Bob is eager to maintain a schedule of turf management tasks that would not look out of place in the professional ranks, backed by advice from leading sports turf companies. The people who know him know he is never shy of picking up the phone and is a great believer in hearing opinions and sharing best practice.

One person he acknowledges as being very open and generous with his time is Grounds and Natural Turf Improvement Programme regional pitch advisor Ian Powell who, says Bob, has helped Cleveland Hall enormously with advice and assistance.

This sort of support helped Bob when considering how best to initiate the local group purchase and usage of a Wiedenmann Terra Spike. With a soil that previously hosted cricket squares, long jump pits and the odd school outbuilding, he knows the value of

BEST PRACTICE | BOWLING GREENS

DEVON KNOWS WHAT’S BEST FOR THE GREEN! Seaton Bowling Club in Devon took advantage of this year’s enforced closure of its green to completely renovate a playing surface that was highly compacted and suffered disease and pests Colin Hoskins Editor

I N HER I T I N G A B OW L S G R E E N that was laid in 1928, it was no surprise to volunteer head greenkeeper Peter Barradell that the six rinks at Seaton Bowling Club were suffering when he started to help out with the care of the green four years ago.

Helped by fellow volunteer Terry HurleySmith, 61-year-old Peter reflects that “years of continuous topdressing of the Sea Hill site in the Devon town had not only created an overly sandy profile on the green’s top layer but there were also areas of severe compaction in the lower profile”, as soil sampling showed.

Taking early retirement and moving to the south west, Peter – formerly a keen athlete who enjoyed playing international hockey and county tennis – joined the club after being coerced by his wife, a keen bowler. It wasn’t long before he was being asked to help out with the green, initially by mowing. With no grounds management experience, he set about supplementing his burgeoning self-taught greenkeeping skills with a number of GMA training courses, complemented by information gleaned by attending various seminars.

He continues: “While we tried to alleviate the compaction with lots of

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regular aeration, the green also had a number of other inherent problems, not the least being several mossy areas, too much thatch and, especially during the past two years, localised Dry Patch. Overseeding just wasn’t working. And last year we were overrun by leatherjackets. We had overseeded in early Autumn 2019 but by the end of that October, large swathes of the green were turning brown due to the pests. This was compounded by the damage being done by the crows looking for an easy meal. Bird deflectors didn’t work but we did have some success with black pepper – after dispensing around 2.5kg of it across the green.

“Something drastic had to be done and when the Covid-19 lockdown was on the horizon, we knew it was now or never.”

Clean slate The club committee had heard about the good work on a neighbouring bowls club’s green initiated by Marcus Hewitt, the local representative of amenity supplier Rigby Taylor, so they made contact with him. An initial investigation of the green by Marcus and sports grounds contractor Judges and Son showed, unsurprisingly, very high levels

BOWLING GREENS | BEST PRACTICE

New pavilion Replacing the boards: groundsmen Peter Barradell (far right) and Terry Hurley-Smith (centre) are helped by club members, from left, Peter Newton, John Morley and John Veith

of compaction at about 100mm down – “interspaced, surprisingly, by a number of ‘soft’ areas”, says Peter – and their recommendation was to “rip up the green and start again”.

That was easier said than done, initially, since the usual limited access to the club/green wasn’t large enough for the contractor’s vehicles and equipment. The local council, “which was very helpful” says Peter, allowed the club to remove part of a hedgerow to permit vehicular access via an adjacent community space. (The green is leased from the council.)

The two-day project saw the top 25mm or so of grass and top rootzone Koroed off, then several passes of rotovation down a further 114mm, followed by vertidraining down to the drainage at about 200mm deep. The 60 tonnes of top layer removed by the Koro was replaced with an equal amount of new dressing, then a fastacting fertiliser was applied (Activate XL) plus the EGC granular nematicide, which contains 45% garlic extract, to combat any leatherjackets that may have survived the rotovating. This was followed by overseeding with R9, an ultra-fine dwarf rye with Germin-8T treatment to give the

emerging seedlings immediate access to a package of nutrients, biostimulants and micronised mycorrhizal fungi to aid early establishment, improve root mass development and accelerate leaf extension.

“All the work was carried out in midAugust – Terry and I, plus other volunteers, also took the opportunity to replace the wooden edging boards – and we subsequently enjoyed a fantastic period of weather for grow-in,” adds Peter. “In fact, the R9 was germinating within just five days and now, [six weeks later] it is growing so vigorously that we are having to cut it at least twice a week.”

He concludes: “The renovation was a big step for the club, because it was not a cheap project. But we knew that if we didn’t have a green – a good green – we wouldn’t have a club and that would be devastating to our 100 playing members who, in a normal season, would be enjoying bowling in a very sociable atmosphere. So, it had to be done and that was helped by a lot of fundraising. Also, with the pandemic still rife, we decided not to open the green at all this year in the hope that we’ll be in the best possible shape for when next season starts in April.” ■

Relaying the green in 2020 was not the first time that Seaton Bowling Club members have rallied round and instigated fund-raising to improve their facilities at the club, which was officially affiliated to the Devon Country Association in 1910 and previously played on a green near Seaton Town FC before moving to Sea Hill 92 years ago.

The original pavilion at Sea Hill was a wooden hut and, during the ensuing years, this was replaced by a building of a more substantial structure but of basic design and, with the aid of a Lottery Grant in 1996 plus repayable bonds purchased by the members and various fundraising events, the club extended the pavilion and incorporated a modern kitchen and bar. Additionally, the dressing rooms were designed in such a way that partitioning can be removed at the end of the outdoor bowling season to allow room for two rinks of short mat bowls, plus a skittle alley, to give members an interest during the winter months.

thegma.org.uk | GROUNDS MANAGEMENT 15

TECHNICAL UPDATE | BACK TO BASICS – FERTILISERS

TECHNICAL UPDATE

No fillers are added at Compo Expert’s production plants

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Fertilisers play an important role in an integrated turf management programme.

They help keep turf healthy, aid its recovery from wear and tear, and enhance its appearance. However, effective nutrient management means applying the right nutrient, at the right time, at the right rate and in the right place Matt Williams National sales manager, Compo Expert

ESSEN T I A L N UT R I E N T S for grass plants include: nitrogen for growth and colour; phosphate for root development; potassium for water regulation and plant metabolism; calcium – to aid cell structure; iron for chlorophyll; and magnesium for root growth. The soil is the grass plant’s nutrient resource and these nutrients need to be balanced to ensure the plant’s health. However, the uptake and availability of certain nutrients can be restricted by

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excess or insufficient quantities of other nutrients. For example, high amounts of potassium can restrict the uptake of magnesium.

Types of fertiliser Fertilisers come in granular or liquid format and an effective application programme should maintain consistent root and vegetative growth throughout the growing season. Conventional fertilisers (including

IN ACTION

No stone unturned The purchase of a BLEC Power Box Rake 150 helped one grounds firm remove debris to re-use good topsoil The Power Box Rake has saved Chemquad’s customers money by enabling the re-use of topsoil

With two major soft landscaping projects in the diary, the decision to purchase a Power Box Rake 150 (PBR150) from BLEC was a timely one for Worcester based contractor, Chemquad. Owner Tom Jennings estimates that the PBR’s ability to cultivate and grade even the most compacted ground saved one client almost £30,000, converting topsoil considered ‘unsalvageable’ into ground fit for seeding once again.

“We were looking for something manoeuvrable but powerful enough to handle a variety of ground conditions,” explains Tom. He purchased a PBR150 from his local Tallis Amos dealer in the midst of the Covid-19 lockdown and it was put to work on a problem area almost straight away. “We were working on a housing development in Daventry which has a gas line running straight

Tried and trusted Topsham Bowls Club’s greenkeeper John Brand relies on his Dennis mowers to keep the surface pristine John Brand, greenkeeper at Topsham Bowls Club in Exeter, has been at the club for over 10 years and has seen a continuous rise in membership, with more and more prestigious tournaments being held there – testament to the quality of the playing surface. To help keep it in good condition, John uses a Dennis FT510 cylinder mower, which he has had for over a decade, and a newly purchased Dennis Razor Ultra 560 mower.

The Dennis FT510 is a 510mm (20in) cylinder mower fitted with an

interchangeable cassette system. A range of 11 cassettes mean that one machine can be used for several key maintenance tasks including scarifying, verticutting or brushing.

The Dennis Razor Ultra 560 has been developed to meet the demands of fine turf such as bowling greens, golf greens and cricket pitches. With a 560mm (22in) cutting width, the Razor Ultra 560 incorporates many key features including an 11-bladed cutting cylinder, ultra-short wheelbase for undulating surfaces, tungsten tipped groomer, compact handle design for extra manoeuverability, click height adjusters and stub free transport wheels for easy transport from site to site.

John says: “We’ve had the FT510 for a long time now and it has never let us down – I’ll still use that for verticutting.

The main reason we purchased the Razor Ultra 560 was because we wanted the grooming facility to get rid of the long ends of the grass. It has worked

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through the centre of it. We needed something that could deal with the compaction caused by site traffic but nothing too heavy or that worked too deep in the ground. The easily adjustable throw plate on the PBR meant we could rake surface stones to begin with and gradually lower it to grade stones from deeper in the surface. It did an incredible job.”

At the heart of the PBR150 is a carbide toothed rotor which contra rotates to pulverise and separate stones and debris from the soil, leaving a raked finish in its wake. Rear adjustable castor wheels give accurate depth control while side plates effectively gather up the windrowed material for clean and simple removal. Tom says: “The savings we have made on these two major projects by not having to hire specialist equipment or purchase tonnes of new topsoil means the PBR has already paid for itself, and more.”

For more information visit www.blecmachinery.com

John Brand has been using Dennis mowers at the site for many years

wonders and it has really helped with thinning the turf which makes the bowls move more quickly across the green.

“I really like the weight of the Razor Ultra too and it is doing the rolling at the same time. We normally cut down to 4mm and it offers a fantastic finish every time – the presentation is unrivalled.”

Find out more at www.dennisuk.com

TECHNICAL UPDATE | COVID-19 ADVICE

GROW WITH THE GMA

When opportunity knocks…

Phil Fifield took advantage of this year’s Covid-19 lockdown to attain the Level 6 Professional Certificate, in line with his belief in making the most of every challenging period

Colin Hoskins Editor

How were you introduced to the industry?

Now 34 years of age, I entered grounds care 15 years ago after a couple of serious knee injuries when I was a teenager. It was clear that my future wasn’t likely to be in creating divots and scars on a football pitch, but rather in preventing and repairing them. An apprentice role came up at Portsmouth FC, shortly after I had completed a handful of match days at AFC Bournemouth. I worked at Portsmouth FC for two and a half years, primarily at the training ground but also at the stadium in my final season there before moving to Brentford FC, aged 22, as head groundsman.

I have also worked at Fulham FC as grounds manager then in Qatar, as a turf specialist, overseeing over 30 stadium and training ground pitches for the QSL, Ministry of Sport and World Cup Committee. Throughout my career and within my present role, my travels have extended to more than 20 countries, and counting.

What is your current role?

The main emphasis of my role as sports turf consultant at iTurf Management is on the technical delivery and performance of professional sports pitches in the UK and overseas, providing impartial and complete agronomic services to stadia, including sports surface design, specification, construction, project management, quality assessment and maintenance solutions. The role also embraces: offering advice on maintenance work; audits of pitch/club, machinery, staff technical abilities and training; advice on and supervision of reconstruction/renovation works; pitch management and tournament delivery; the provision of technical seminars and training programmes; pitch performance testing; and advice on biodiversity and sustainability.

You’ve recently been accredited to the Level 6 Professional Certificate. What was the driver for this qualification?

I believe it is important that I continue to learn throughout my career and personal development.

I was fortunate to be able to complete this course during the Covid-19 lockdown earlier this year.

I believe it is so important to emerge from any challenging period better than when entering it, be that by learning a new skill, undertaking a course or even taking up a new hobby. The GMA was always available if needed to deliver this wellstructured course.

The Level 6 complements my other qualifications – Level 3 Environmental Sciences Diploma, Level 3 Botany Diploma, Level 3 Sports Turf Management, Level 6 PCert Turf Management Consultancy, Level 7 Facility Management, plus Pa1, Pa2, Pa6 Pesticide Application.

What is your next step – in terms of both training/qualifications and aspirations in the industry for career progression?

Visit www.thegma.org.uk/learning for details of the Grounds Management Association’s education and learning programmes

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Continue to progress and help those in the industry, and to work towards an MSc in Agronomy. ■

Phil’s work involves travel, including to Uganda (above) for this workshop for UEFA and CAF