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
4 GROUNDS MANAGEMENT | NOVEMBER 2020
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.