Grounds Management June 2021 Preview

Making sport possible

UP AND RUNNING How ECB new recruits are ‘getting the game on’ post COVID

GRAY LEAF SPOT DISEASE Part 2: How to manage it

PITCH ADVISORY SERVICE

Improving grassroots natural turf pitches

NEIL RODGER

Q&A with Playing Surfaces Committee member

June 2021 | £4.00

GROUNDS MANAGEMENT

JUNE 2021

WELCOME Cautious optimism On the back of extended sport restrictions caused by the pandemic, May was a record breaker for rainfall, which has caused further frustration for sports participants, as well as for those of you who prepare the surfaces – particularly in finding a window to renovate winter pitches in time for the new season.

However, the past year has allowed us to focus on some of the future challenges our industry faces. These include the falling number of new recruits, industry pay and working conditions and adapting working practices that relate to energy efficiency and sustainability – which are all set to dominate the GMA’s narrative in the coming years.

The GMA has also reflected on its membership offering since the pandemic.

Mental health is at the forefront of discussions on how we ensure members get the support they need. We are also looking at how we can help businesses bounce back, and how to harness the power of sport to capture a new generation of professionals into our sector.

We will not shirk the challenge and, over the next few months, we will be reviewing our membership offer so that we can support you and – at all levels of the profession – enhance the public’s understanding of your role and develop opportunities for your career progression.

Together we look forward to better days ahead as we emerge from what has been a very sobering experience for us all.

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REGULARS

FEATURES

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Industry news News and product innovations from across the industry

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PAS update GMA secures investment to boost grassroots sport

Cricket – growing the game How the ECB’s Dr Iain James and Andy Mackay are helping cricket get its game back on, as COVID-19 restrictions lift

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Gray Leaf Spot Part two of an in-depth look at gray leaf spot – a potentially devastating turfgrass disease

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Soil-based rootzones and topdressings STRI’s trial on the benefits of using soil-based rootzones and top dressings to construct, maintain and repair pitches

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Maintenance tips What to do in July

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In Action BLEC steps up at Congleton Lawn Turf and an ISEKI upgrade for NHS Tayside

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Product Showcase Spotlight on natural and artificial turf maintenance, and line-marking

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60 seconds with...

Quickfire questions with STRI’s representative on the Playing Surfaces Committee, Neil Rodger

Geoff Webb

This magazine is printed using paper from responsible sources

Chief Executive Officer Grounds Management Association

Next issue of

GROUNDS MANAGEMENT out from August

GROUNDS MANAGEMENT ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

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: Karen Maxwell | e:editor@thegma.org.uk | t:07866 736597 Publisher: James Houston ■ Product editor: Davina Rungasamy | e:davina@jamespembrokemedia.co.uk Head of design: Simon Goddard

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

THE LATEST HEADLINES FROM GMA AND THE INDUSTRY

MEMBERSHIP NEWS

GMA member benefits update Watford FC won the Championship League EFL Grounds Team of the Season

AWA R D S & R E C O G N I T I O N

PL & EFL Grounds Teams of the Season revealed AS THE 2020/21 campaign draws to a close, Premier League (PL) and English Football League (EFL) grounds teams have been recognised for their continued commitment, as things were made difficult due to the lack of time for pitch maintenance, as well as the intense fixture schedule, following the outbreak of COVID-19.

Manchester United FC are winners of the PL Grounds Team of the Season award, with Arsenal, Liverpool, Newcastle and Tottenham Hotspur receiving Highly Commended status.

In the EFL, Watford FC won the Grounds Team of the Season award

in the Championship, with AFC Bournemouth and Stoke City gaining Highly Commended recognition.

Doncaster Rovers won the Grounds Team of the Season award in League One, with Plymouth Argyle, Portsmouth and Shrewsbury Town given Highly Commended status.

Forest Green Rovers are Grounds Team of the Season winners in League Two, with Carlisle United and Cheltenham Town gaining Highly Commended.

Congratulations to all involved.

THE GMA IS pleased to announce it will be reissuing the printed edition of Grounds Management magazine to run closely with season maintenance diaries at least four times per year. This issue will be the last monthly edition, with seasonal publications commencing from August this year.

This initiative will be supported by the provision of an increase in GMA content online, which will include podcasts, videos and blogs, plus regular digital newsletters and social media engagement to provide a steady stream of technical and trendfocused information relevant to seasonal tasks. This exciting online activity will be supported by a new-look website, to launch in 2022, which will create an easily accessible online experience for members. thegma.org.uk

efl.com, premierleague.com P R O F E S S I O N A L S TA N D A R D S

GMA signs MOU with IGH

NEWS

Obituary: Mike Lewis WE ARE ALL saddened to hear of the passing of long-term GMA member and former voluntary sector Board Member Mike Lewis, who has died after a short illness. Mike embarked on his turf management career in 1962 at a local nursey where, after gaining qualifications, he was appointed landscape contract supervisor. He then moved to Shropshire County Council as

a team leader and gained his IOG (GMA) International Diploma in Turfculture. In 1995, Mike moved to Midland News Association where he managed a number of sites, as head groundsperson, for 16 years and then moved to teaching turfcare and landscaping skills to special needs college students.

Mike was a longstanding member of the GMA and also a highly respected and

active member of both the Shropshire Branch and Midland Region.

His hands-on approach to supporting the GMA at both branch and regional levels covered a number of roles ranging from treasurer to chairman. Mike was awarded a GMA Lifetime Achievement Award for his invaluable services to the industry.

THE GMA AND the Australian-based International Greenkeepers for Hire have signed up to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to assist with maintaining the highest standards of grounds management and the promotion of the profession on a global scale.

This agreement includes joinedup thinking on the development of best-practice advice and support, the sharing of relevant case-studies and helping individuals to access roles and networking opportunities to advance their career opportunities. internationalgreenkeepers.com

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PITCH ADVISORY SERVICE UPDATE | INVESTMENT

GMA SECURES £3.9M INVESTMENT TO HELP BOOST GRASSROOTS SPORT The newly named Pitch Advisory Service gains further support from Sport England and its NGB partners to help improve natural turf pitches across football, cricket, rugby union and rugby league

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Jason Booth GMA COO

I’M THRILLED TO REVEAL that the GMA has secured a £3.9m investment from the Premier League, The FA, the Football Foundation and Sport England to help deliver the third phase of the pitch improvement programme that supports local communities and players.

Since 2014, we have grown stronger with each phase of delivery. Now, six years later, we’re seeing huge progress through enhanced education and training of both volunteer and professional grounds managers.

Formally known as the Grounds and Natural Turf Improvement

INVESTMENT | PITCH ADVISORY SERVICE UPDATE

Programme (GaNTIP), the newly named Pitch Advisory Service (PAS) is part of the GMA’s ongoing commitment to help improve natural turf provision across football, cricket, rugby union and rugby league at grassroots level, in joint collaboration with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), Rugby Football Union (RFU) and Rugby Football League (RFL).

After a year of disruption to sport, the GMA’s Pitch Advisory Service will continue to focus on raising the standards of pitches to increase playability, maximise player experience and decrease the number of cancellations due to declining pitch quality.

Grounds management specialists PAS provides an enhanced network of GMA turf care specialists, available to people and organisations maintaining natural turf pitches within local communities, and with the boost in funding, the number of GMA advisers is up by almost 30 per cent. The programme also offers access to dedicated, sportspecific, key account managers at the GMA – a team of grounds management specialists bringing years of grassroots and professional knowledge to the programme.

These managers work collaboratively with each NGB, as well as Sport England, to deliver national objectives to sustain high levels of sport and physical activity, now and in future years. During 2019-20, our regional pitch advisors visited more than 4,500 pitches, within the programme, improving grounds maintenance practices at 91 per cent of the sites visited.

With lockdown placing sport and physical activity on hold, maintaining playing surfaces remained a vital task for volunteers across the country. New digital applications, such as the Football Foundation’s PitchPower, helped clubs facilitate pitch inspections during restrictive periods, which were each reviewed digitally by the GMA’s regional pitch-advisors removing the need for a face-toface site visits.

Despite the COVID-19 restrictions, PitchPower allowed our team to carry out three times as many pitch assessments as before it was launched, and it will remain an important tool as restrictions lift.

In addition, the Football Foundation Groundskeeping Community app, managed with support from the GMA – saw a 43 per cent rise in users during lockdown, and now has 2,670 engaged members, with numbers continuing to grow.

Ongoing support Innovative and collaborative practices, such as online services and applications, are at the centre of the Pitch Advisory Service.

We aim to provide high-quality recommendations and advice to best support clubs of all shapes and sizes, as well as local authorities, both online and offline.

The GMA exists to support volunteers with information, advice and guidance – connecting it with a network of groundspeople from all walks of life.

Through our research, we will continue to highlight the challenges within the turf care sector, but we’re now focused on developing the future workforce with the aim to recruit, retain and reward volunteers for their commitment. We will also continue to look at ways to encourage women and individuals from diverse backgrounds to get involved, with the aim of building a stronger workforce.

Next year, we aim to launch an industry-leading Pitch Grading Framework to provide a benchmark for pitch standards, alongside an affordable education pathway for all grounds staff and volunteers to gain the right level of understanding for each type of pitch.

We hope this programme signals a change in fortune, particularly at a time when restrictions ease and a sense of stability begins. In the future, we envisage that even more people will be able to enjoy the benefits of playing surfaces – whether it’s to develop their sporting talent or just for fun. ■ For more info visit: thegma.org.uk/whowe-are/research-and-funding/groundsnatural-turf-improvement-programme

“We are delighted to be working with partners to deliver the Pitch Advisory Service. This collaboration will provide an exciting and transformational service to improve grasspitch quality and develop a more diverse and experienced workforce of groundspeople.”

Charles Johnston, Sport England executive director of property

“Over the past six years, the Pitch Advisory Service has done a wonderful job supporting community football clubs to maintain and improve their grass pitches. During the pandemic the network came into its own; quickly adapting to work with new digital tools, developed by the Foundation, to ensure pitch quality didn’t suffer as a result of the restrictions.

This new funding means the PAS can continue to do essential work, providing the football community with the information, training and skills needed to raise the standards of football pitches for the millions of community footballers in England.”

Robert Sullivan, Football Foundation CEO

DURING 2019-20, REGIONAL PITCH ADVISORS VISITED MORE THAN 4,500 PITCHES – IMPROVING MAINTENANCE PRACTICES AT 91% OF THE SITES VISITED thegma.org.uk | GROUNDS MANAGEMENT 9

GMA NEWS | LEARNING

GMA TAKES 3G PITCHES COURSE ONLINE The latest addition to the GMA online training covers all aspects of maintaining 3G pitches

FOLLOWING A YEAR of significant growth to its online resources, the GMA has launched its Level 2 ‘Effective Maintenance of 3G Pitches’ training course.

The online course is designed to help participants understand how to effectively maintain a 3G pitch in order to provide a safe Miri Buac surface, while meeting performance criteria and Head of optimising its longevity. ‘Effective Maintenance communications of 3G Pitches’ also helps participants understand the signs that display when a surface is coming to the end of its life.

With the role of grounds staff and volunteers diversifying, it is increasingly important for more individuals to understand how to maintain and extend the life of different types of playing surfaces. The course is suitable for both professionals and volunteers with basic experience, as well as others involved in sports facility management, who wish to gain more understanding of the maintenance and upkeep of these surfaces on varying budgets.

The course is available to purchase via the GMA website for a member and non-member rate. The association now holds seven online courses and aims to relaunch its Continuing Personal Development programme next year alongside its new website.

With restrictions now easing, the GMA hopes to reopen its face-to-face practical sessions that complement its online resources, such as its online courses and the Grounds Management Toolkit, later this year.

Commenting on the course launch, Jason Booth, COO at the GMA says: “We have seen increasing pressures on grounds staff and volunteers like never before. Facilities are The GMA is a not-for-profit organisation and often understaffed, we thank Redexim Charterhouse and Replay so groundspeople Maintenance for their contribution to this are expected to course. To view a full list of our Corporate understand more and Corporate Plus members, please visit about a range of https://portal.thegma.org.uk/membership/ surfaces and offer corporate_partners/all a helping hand across local networks.”

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He continues: “Contrary to belief, 3G surfaces are not low maintenance and they require a high level of knowledge to fulfil their lifespan.

“This course complements our wider learning programme that focuses on grass pitches, helping groundspeople gain relevant skills and best practices when dealing with 3G surfaces.” ■

To find out more information about this course visit: www.thegma.org.uk/learning To discuss a GMA bespoke course at your venue, please contact learning@thegma.org.uk

Photo Andy Cole - iTurf Management

TECHNICAL UPDATE

PART TWO

HOW TO MANAGE GRAY LEAF SPOT DISEASE If left unchecked, Gray Leaf Spot disease could kill a stadium pitch within a couple of days. Part 1 of this two-part article, published in the May issue, looked at the fungus, how it infects the plant and the symptoms. Part 2 now looks at minimising a potential occurrence and how to manage an outbreak

Sabine Braitmaier Managing director, ProSementis GmbH

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Dr Deborah Cox Lagan Valley Scientific

Dr Kate Entwistle The Turf Disease Centre

GRAY LEAF SPOT | TECHNICAL UPDATE

Cultural conditions that help reduce Gray Leaf Spot (GLS) disease development should focus on reducing temperature and relative humidity around the turf. Sustained temperatures above 28°C promote rapid disease development. The use of cooling fans in stadia, for example, will decrease air temperature to approximately 6-10°C below the ambient temperature and the fan alone will help dry the leaf surface.

By ensuring the rootzone does not remain wet around the base of the turf, we can decrease humidity in the sward.

It is important in high-sand-content rootzones that the plant does not suffer drought-stress. Irrigation timing and application volume are critical factors during periods of potential disease activity, to ensure the plant has access to sufficient water, but that the leaf surface is kept dry for as long as possible. Ideally, susceptible turf should not be irrigated after 6pm, so that the leaf surface remains dry overnight.

Nutrient availability is also a key factor. Observations have shown GLS disease severity typically rises with increasing and rapidly available amounts of nitrogen (N), whereas controlled-release fertilisers can help reduce the risk of disease.

Low rates of nitrogen, applied at shorter intervals, are less likely to encourage disease and, ideally, application rates should be kept below 1.25g N/sq m/ application. Balanced nutrient availability, at rates needed to maintain strong turf growth, should reduce the plant’s susceptibility to disease and enable it to grow through minor disease outbreaks. Rapid, weak leaf development should not be encouraged, as this will be more susceptible to infection by the fungus.

The turf should be maintained at an optimal height for the grass type, but where disease symptoms begin to develop, the height of cut can be lowered slightly and the clippings removed. This height reduction is the opposite to what would be recommended for minimising other Leaf Spot diseases (typically caused

by Drechslera spp. or Bipolaris sp. fungi). If GLS is severely affecting the turf, clipping removal is unlikely to make a significant difference to the disease progression.

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Disinfection system with foam

We know that young plants are susceptible to infection and, therefore, where disease has previously been confirmed on a site, be prepared for a likely infection at four to five weeks post-emergence.

Disease-tolerant grass There has been worldwide interest by turfgrass breeders to produce grass varieties (cultivars) that show reduced susceptibility to GLS disease and several such varieties of L. perenne are now available. Since 2000, Lolium perenne varieties have been developed and tested in the USA for tolerance to GLS at the various sites of NTEP (National Turfgrass Evaluation Program: www.ntep.org) and at Rutgers University in New Brunswick (NJ) (https://turf.rutgers. edu/research/reports/). Breeders in the US refer to ‘GLS Resistant’ varieties, but these plants actually have reduced susceptibility to infection.

On previously affected sites or on turf where infection could potentially develop, the use of these GLS-tolerant varieties is highly recommended.

Varieties showing reduced susceptibility to GLS, have a darker green leaf colour than many L. perenne varieties and may not blend well in an existing turf.

However, in Germany (since 2017) and in Austria (since 2018) many previously affected stadia have used the dark GLS-tolerant varieties after their Koro-

renovation. High seed purity is essential for these varieties because ingress of the pale-green Poa annua or P. trivialis will be more obvious through the turf.

Another option is to use grasses that are not affected by the disease.

For a sports field, the use of Poa pratensis might be considered, but with different germination and establishment rates between the grasses, P. pratensis could be an unsuitable choice in certain cases.

Some grounds managers have achieved success in limiting GLS infection by seeding initially with 100 per cent Poa pratensis (dark varieties) and some weeks later, overseeding with 100 per cent GLS tolerant L. perenne.

Other managers are using a hybrid system consisting of a 30 per cent Poa pratensis and 70 per cent of GLStolerant L. perenne mix of varieties for the summer renovation.

Disease control Fungicide applications will be effective against the causal fungus, but as GLS becomes increasingly aggressive through the summer months, the relative efficacy of fungicides is likely to be reduced. Early or preventative applications will effectively manage summer outbreaks, but there have already been reports of resistance or reduced susceptibility to the strobilurin and DMI fungicides. Products with a multi-site mode of action are likely to

thegma.org.uk | GROUNDS MANAGEMENT 15

Photo grashobber GmbH & Co. KG, Germany

How can we manage this disease?

GMA MAINTENANCE TIPS

July operations Our monthly maintenance guide to help you keep your sports surfaces in top condition all year round Bowling Greens • To assist in irrigation management, consider doing a soil-moisture deficit chart, combined with observations of the sward and dryness of the soil profile. This will act as a useful guide and can help towards reducing the costs of water used – be mindful to irrigate at a time of day that minimises water wastage.

• Ensure rink usage is spread sideways on a regular basis and that rinks are also turned 90 degrees daily.

• Continue to mow regularly and raise the height of cut. A good, dry sward of fescue/bent grasses will produce a faster surface when mown higher in comparison to an annual meadow grass sward.

• Be careful when verticutting at this time of year, as you do not want to stress the plant, which will reduce its ability to withstand wear.

Cricket Squares • Besides the continuing preparation of wickets to meet user demands, the square should typically be cut twice a week and the outfield once a week.

• Wickets used and renovated earlier in the season could be reused if they have recovered.

• July is a good time for a light nitrogen-only fertiliser application

to the whole square, as this will help maintain sward strength without encouraging unwanted excessive growth.

• Be mindful of pitches drying out too quickly during preparation works.

Cricket Outfields • If herbicide was applied to control broad/narrow leaved weeds, this should have cleared up the problem – spot overseeding may be required to promote increased coverage in isolated areas.

• Continue to cut outfields, in line with requirements of play and needs of the surface – reducing frequency of cut and raising the height during extended dry and hot spells.

Football Pitches • The pitch should be establishing itself following the end of season renovation, however, there are several tasks that will need attending to.

• Any thin areas will require a light topdressing and spot overseed, keep moist and cover to retain moisture to promote germination and establishment of these areas.

• Continue mowing regularly to thicken the sward when weather conditions allow, being mindful not to stress the grass during extended dry and hot spells.

• A light nitrogen liquid or granular fertiliser application may encourage growth if the weather conditions allow. This should only be given if soil moisture is adequate, there is artificial irrigation and the grass is still maintaining growth.

Horse Racecourses • Routine maintenance work over the summer months will include: • Artificial irrigation to produce a suitable firmness of ground for the day of a race meeting.

• A liquid nitrogen fertiliser may be considered for the home straight, show paddock and ornamental

lawns around the grandstand area.

Alternatively, the whole of the racecourse might be treated to a light nitrogen application.

• Continue to divot and repair after each meeting.

• Weed control may be required.

• Continue to mow regularly and do not neglect courses rested over the summer.

Rugby League Pitches • Frequent cutting is advised to thicken up the sward.

• Irrigate if possible.

• A fertiliser application may be required to promote sustained growth, a liquid or granular may be used, but a longer-lasting option is to use a balanced controlled release product.

• Verticuting may be required to help control the poa annua and keep the sward clean.

• Overseeding may be required – lightly dress and irrigate sufficiently to promote establishment.

Rugby Union Pitches • The pitch establishment should be coming along nicely.

• Besides artificial irrigation and light topping of the sward, some additional works may include: • Overseeding if any areas did not establish as well as expected.

• Apply a light nitrogen fertiliser, possibly as a liquid feed.

Tennis Courts • Artificial irrigation will probably be the norm for now, ensure application is carried out evenly and at a time of the day that minimises water wastage. Check all equipment is functioning properly.

• Rolling may cease, unless rainfall is regular – then continue to firm the surface.

• Continue to use a spiked roller.

Consider the use of a water-injected aeration machine during the summer.

thegma.org.uk | GROUNDS MANAGEMENT 21

TECHNICAL UPDATE | SOIL-BASED ROOTZONES & TOPDRESSINGS

Andy Spetch National TOPSOIL manager, British Sugar plc

SOIL-BASED ROOTZONES AND TOPDRESSINGS Independent scientific trials, by STRI, support the use of soil-based rootzones and topdressing materials for constructing, maintaining and repairing winter games pitches I’VE CHAMPIONED SOIL-BASED rootzones and topdressings for many years. As a trained agronomist, former amateur rugby player and RFU volunteer groundsperson, I understand from personal experience the pressures on grassroots clubs and their groundspeople to deliver playable pitches, week after week, throughout the season, with little budget.

If it isn’t the climate providing challenges, it’s budgetary constraints.

With this in mind, I was keen to prove scientifically that using soil-based rootzones and topdressing materials for constructing, maintaining and repairing winter turf pitches could reduce the requirement for both irrigation and additional inputs of inorganic fertilisers.

As both these aspects can have a marked impact on maintenance budgets, especially for grassroots clubs, I commissioned independent scientific trials by the STRI on Landscape20 topsoil and Sports&Turf top-dressing products, to give clubs the independent, scientific evidence

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that is needed when considering alternatives to traditional sand and compost-based mixes.

The trials The four trials were carried out under the head of research Dr Christian Spring at STRI Research in Bingley, West Yorkshire, during the autumn and winter of 2020. Each trial was run as a randomised complete block design, with each treatment replicated five times in pots measuring 11cm x 11cm x 12cm deep. The trials compared British Sugar TOPSOIL’s Landscape20 65:35 and Sports&Turf 90:10 sand and soil mix products with the following sportsgrowing media: • USGA style free-draining mix (80:20 sand:peat mix) • Tee’s mix (70:30 sand:peat mix) • Sand: soil mix (80:20 sand:soil mix) • Clay loam soil Note: Peat was used experimentally to ensure peat-amended mixes did not have a greater nutrient reserve compared to other treatments.

Trial pots B, C and D started in September 2020 in STRI’s greenhouse and finished in mid-November.

Trial A pots were placed in a controlled environment chamber to help facilitate the creation of moisture deficit. The trial was started in November 2020 and concluded in February 2021.

Assessments The weekly assessments on each of the four trials included: • Turf density • Turf quality • Turf colour • Visual turf uniformity • Turf stress • Sward height • Rooting length and density score Trials A (seeded drought trial) and C (seeded nutrient trial) were also assessed for grass germination and rate of maturation, the latter were assessed twice weekly for the first month of the trial and weekly thereafter.

PRODUCT SHOWCASE

NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL SURFACE MAINTENANCE

REDEXIM

Cleaning to the Extreme The Redexim Extreme Clean is a horizontal rotary unit designed to remove debris, breathe new life into compacted synthetic carpets or target specific neglected areas.

The stiff bristles of the rotating brushes ‘scrub’ the surface to loosen infill, lift flattened fibres and remove debris and contaminants.

Available in 120cm or 180cm working widths, the Extreme Clean is adjusted on four threaded spindles, allowing the brush-head depth and pressure to be set accurately – depending on the aggressiveness of cleaning work required.

This machine is particularly effective on sand-dressed surfaces, making it a popular choice for the regeneration of tennis courts, football and hockey surfaces. By loosening hardened and/or compacted infill materials, the Extreme Clean will help restore both the aesthetic and physical play characteristics of a carpet – improving drainage, player safety and ball roll/ bounce, and reducing the likelihood of more serious and costly surface repairs being required further down the line. redexim.com

SISIS

Brushing up on maintenance The SISIS Osca is perfect for synthetic surface maintenance.

From the very beginning, these types of surfaces need a good maintenance programme, and failure to maintain the surface could lead to issues such as compaction, loss

of porosity, inconsistent playing characteristics, damaged fibres and contamination of the infill.

The SISIS Osca tractor-mounted powered oscillating brush is used by many groundstaff, and is ideal for a sand or rubber crumb surface.

A pair of oscillating brushes allows periodic aggressive brushing to be undertaken to agitate the upper infilllevel helping reduce compaction, encourage the fibres to stand upright and reduce the risk of contamination and surface water.

It can also be used for regular light brushing, helping to stand the fibres up, move the infill around, create a level surface and minimise the threat of moss and algae.

It uses fewer passes than a conventional drag brush, and has the option of adding a further 1.8m-wide brush to the system, which helps to enhance the final finish. sisis.com

thegma.org.uk | GROUNDS MANAGEMENT 25

60 SECONDS WITH…

Neil Rodger Neil Rodger, STRI’s representative on the Playing Surfaces Committee discusses the PL and EFL Grounds Team of the Season Awards’ judging process and the challenges faced by grounds teams during COVID-19 restrictions What is your career background and when did you join the Playing Surfaces Committee?

Karen Maxwell Editor

When Dr Stephen Baker was nearing retirement and stepped down from the Playing Surfaces Committee in 2019, I had the opportunity to replace him as STRI’s representative. I have been lucky to work with many UK and international grounds teams over the past 10 years in my consultancy role at STRI. My involvement with UEFA and FIFA competitions has allowed me to experience a wide range of pitches, so it seemed natural to move into the position when Stephen stepped down.

What is the committee’s remit?

The committee, chaired by Simon Barker of the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), meets two to three times per season to discuss pitch-related matters. It provides guidance to the Premier League (PL) and English Football League (EFL) and organises networking events for grounds personnel across the country, as well as administering the Grounds Team of the Season Awards.

The committee members include representatives from STRI, the GMA, the PFA, the PL, the EFL, the FA and we also have groundsperson representatives from PL and EFL clubs.

What challenges have grounds teams faced during the COVID restrictions?

Grounds teams have done an incredible job to ensure the quality of pitches has remained high throughout the pandemic. Maybe the biggest challenge was the uncertainty around the restart of the 2019/20 season after it was suspended in March 2020. This, along with the shortened gap before the start of the 20/21 season, made the planning and implementation of renovation works difficult ahead of the condensed season. In some cases, the furlough scheme resulted in a reduction in staff numbers, which put pressure on grounds teams, particularly for those looking after multiple pitches. Naturally, this meant the maintenance inputs had to be reduced. Cuts to operational and capital expenditure also made this a very challenging time.

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Neil Rodger is STRI’s representative on the Playing Surface Committee

Can you explain the judging criteria related to the Grounds Teams of the Season Awards?

The shortlist of finalists is determined by the average pitch marks scored throughout the season. The shortlist comprises the top five clubs in the PL and the top three clubs in the EFL’s Championship, League One and League Two. There were four clubs shortlisted in League One this season because of joint scores.

I visit the shortlisted clubs’ grounds teams, discuss the management of the pitch and observe its current condition. I then share my recommendations for the winners with the Playing Surface Committee, before we finalise the winners and highly commended teams.

The four elements of judging criteria include: •A verage pitch marks – scored throughout the season by the referee and the match delegate in the PL and the referee and away team manager in the EFL. •P itch condition – this includes a visual assessment of grass cover, turf health, the presence of pests, weeds and disease, as well as the general presentation.

•E nvironmental conditions and usage – includes an assessment of stadium environment and the impact of shade, annual rainfall, average temperatures and usage.

•P itch management assessment – includes the pitch construction, staff numbers, resources and pitch management practices.

How do these awards promote best practice in grounds management?

Hopefully, the awards help to promote and raise the profile of expert grounds management throughout the PL and the EFL. In recent years, the appreciation of the work carried out by grounds teams has increased with clubs recognising the role the pitch plays in the team’s success. ■