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THE LATEST HEADLINES FROM GMA AND THE INDUSTRY

From July, competitive 11-a-side matches have been allowed

CRICKET Isle of Wight cricketers find new ways to play

CRICKETERS ON the Isle of Wight have come up with a solution to enable the game to restart safely under the latest Covid-19 guidance.

July saw the start of the competitive cricket season on the Isle of Wight as 13 teams from eight clubs play in two mini leagues for the rest of the summer.

The teams will be split into two leagues, the A and B, with each team playing each other once in a 40 overa-side format that follows the Covid-19 playing guidance. The league will see teams from the Southern League and Hampshire taking on Island league sides for the first time in many years. The Isle of Wight Cricket Board is also looking to host an Island All Stars Game on August 29 which will see the best players come together to play in a one-off game.

The action won’t be over at the end of August as the league programme will be followed by a new cup competition, The September Cup, which will give those clubs and players wishing to extend the season past the traditional closing date extra time playing.

The junior cricketers aren’t being left behind as all the age groups (U11s, 13s & 15s) in the area have got underway with their fixtures for the season. The leagues have been scrapped for the summer but the clubs have a fixture list until early September, giving the juniors plenty of opportunity to test their skills.

Cricket development manager, Stuart Chatfield, said: “The league and cup will give the players what they have told us they wanted, which is a competition at the weekends, with over 75% of those who completed our questionnaire wanting to see some sort of competition this season. It will see many sides take on teams from different leagues, which will make it really exciting. But most pleasing is that the clubs were keen to enter teams and make the league a success, with them working together sharing grounds and players to get the games on.”

Throughout England, cricket has moved from step 3 to step 4 of the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) roadmap to return for recreational cricket, as reported on in the last issue of Grounds Management. A full programme of grounds maintenance can now resume on cricket grounds. There is separate guidance for Wales; more information can be found at www.ecb.co.uk.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Notice is hereby given that the AGM of the Grounds Management Association will be a ‘virtual’ online meeting held on Wednesday November 25, 2020 from 12pm to 1.30pm. Further information will be provided via our magazine, website and social media pages during September.

LEARNING GMA Live: Grow your grounds career

GMA LIVE CONTINUES on Thursday, August 13, 12pm-1pm, with an overview of the skills needed to maintain pitches across all levels – including an outline of the GMA’s national framework for pitch quality standards, the Pitch Grading Framework – from expert speakers who include: Jason Booth, GMA director of technical and learning; Dan Prest, GMA head of technical and learning; and Alex Latto, assistant head groundsman, Scottish Rugby, BT Murrayfield Stadium. They will deliver live experiences on college-based and GMA education, along with information on career routes, specialist training and the broader qualifications available.

The webinar will highlight:

• What grounds management involves (maintenance tasks,

SUPPORT

Perennial helps hard-hit families THE CHARITY PERENNIAL, which helps grounds workers and their families in times of difficulty, is offering support in the form of help with school uniform costs as the children of grounds staff return to school this September.

The charity says that the coronavirus pandemic has worsened an already difficult situation for some families. According to a report by The Children’s Society, the

understanding of plant and soil science), and the varying levels of the GMA’s Pitch Grading Framework • An overview of routes into the industry, the courses available and career paths • An update on skills and training required at certain levels, and what can give you the edge over other candidates • Best ways to network • Generic CV hints and tips • A chance to ask questions. To register visit: www.thegma.org.

uk/news average cost of secondary school uniform per year per child is £337 and £315 for primary school age children.

Perennial’s support scheme was launched in 2019 and was very well received with one parent saying: “I am relieved and humbled that you have helped us with the children’s uniform and shoes. Thank you so much for your support and advice, too. It feels financially overwhelming at the moment and we are grateful for this help.”

To find out more about the Back to School support and apply for help, visit perennial.org.uk/backtoschool

NEWS IN BRIEF

Obituary: Tom Flintoft

Tom Flintoft, former head groundsman at Durham Cricket, has died. Tom spent seven years at the Emirates Riverside stadium, becoming the club’s first head groundsman in 1991 having returned to his native North East after spending a period as head groundsman at Hampshire County Cricket Club. Winning many awards throughout his career, Tom was in charge of laying the square at Emirates Riverside following Durham becoming a first-class county.

Bionema secures innovation grant Biotechnology firm Bionema has received a grant from Innovate UK to support its development of bioinsecticide microencapsulation formulation, which offers an alternative to chemical pesticides. The £98,000 Continuity Grant complements an initial £1 million in funding from Innovate UK and from the Welsh Government’s SMART Cymru.

John Deere sells SABO

John Deere has announced it is selling SABO to Mutares. Germany-based SABO makes mowers and other outdoor power products. Tim Merrett, John Deere’s vice president, turf and compact utility platform, said: “Further investment in walk-behind lawnmowers was no longer a strategic fit for our global business. John Deere will continue to produce a range of lawn and grounds care equipment.”

Tivoli trials electric Grounds and landscape contractor Tivoli has introduced a modernisation programme for equipment and vehicles with a view to replacing them with electric or hybrid versions where possible. Likely to cost around £15 million, the project will include the renewal of 650 or so vehicles.

Vale’s new website

Vale Engineering (York), a manufacturer of weed control, turf care and winter maintenance equipment, has launched a new website (www.valeuk.com) that combines all the company’s brands for the first time and features, for example, downloadable specifications and images for each product.

THE FA Andy Gray heads up St George’s Park

ANDY GRAY has been appointed head of grounds and estates for St George’s Park, the home of 27 England teams and FA Education.

Andy agreed to join The FA in May from Southampton FC, where he had responsibility for St Mary’s Stadium and the Staplewood training campus. Having seen out the delayed 2019-20 season with the Premier League club, he will now start at St George’s Park in September. Built in 2012, the site features 13 outdoor pitches, and an indoor 3G and Futsal arena, providing world-class facilities for England teams ahead of international fixtures.

Andy had spent 22 years at Southampton but said he could not turn down the opportunity to work at St George’s Park. He said: “I am very excited and looking forward to it. If you work in football, whatever your role, working for the national team is

SYMBIO

TURF MANAGERS in the South West of England will see a familiar face again as Neil Carter returns to Symbio in a sales and advisory role.

Neil has more than 30 years of horticultural experience behind him. RHS qualified, he then completed an HND in Golf Course Management at Cannington College in 1996. A diverse greenkeeping career followed at venues including the Manor House at Castle Combe, Paris International, Dartmouth Golf & Country Club and the London Golf Club. He initially joined Symbio at the turn of the millennium and spent a decade with the Surrey

the pinnacle. I have loved every day of working for Southampton and always knew it would take something big to make me leave. Wembley is the elite when it comes to stadia and St George’s Park is the same when it comes to training grounds.

“I know there is a good, strong team already in place and I am looking forward to working closely with them. It will be great to build new working relationships, not just in the grounds department but also with everyone involved in making the site the impressive

Neil Carter returns in new role

place that it has become.” based soil biology specialist before starting a successful gardening business in his local area.

He rejoined the company in March and is looking forward to working with customers in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Dorset, Hampshire and Gloucestershire again. “It’s great to be back, and at an exciting time for Symbio. The team has grown significantly; the breadth of expertise our customers have access to today is incredible. New product research and development has continued and it’s fantastic to see additions such as Symbio Biotabs and Incision join mainstay products like Thatch Eater and compost teas in a portfolio that’s helping turf managers across the country.” Neil can be contacted at neil@symbio.co.uk

Nick Brown, Campey Campey Turf Care Systems has appointed Nick Brown as its new export sales manager. Nick has over 20 years of experience in golf and sports turf and, through his previous role at Ransomes Jacobsen, has extensive knowledge of the international markets. Nick said: “In my new role, I want to build on the message that Campey is always willing to go the extra mile to help. I have always worked on the basis of ‘making a customer, not a sale,’ and that matches perfectly with the common goals and message the Campey team has.”

campeyturfcare.com

Stephen Pearce, Bionema

Bionema, the UKbased biopesticide technology developer, has announced the appointment of Stephen Pearce as non-executive chair. Steve has more than 25 years of global experience in the pharma, biotech and life science industries, and has served in senior positions in both public and private equityowned companies – where the development and implementation of successful transformational strategies are fundamental to companies’ sustainable growth. www.bionema.com

Ben O’Connor, S&C Slatter Sports construction company S&C Slatter has appointed Ben O’Connor as managing director, with David Slatter moving into the role of CEO at The Slatter Group. Ben joined S&C Slatter as preconstruction manager in 2015, bringing considerable industry experience, including work on the Olympic and Commonwealth Games. Ben said: “I’m excited to work with a fantastic team who are determined to keep us at the forefront of the industry.”

www.theslattergroup.com

Perfect play requires Perfect maintenance

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