GMA Student of the Year

“I APPRECIATE WHAT I’VE ACHIEVED”

GMA Industry Award winner Callum Allsop continues to enjoy life to the full and he describes being part of Leicester City FC’s grounds team as “my perfect job”

NAMED AS THE 2019 GMA Toro Most Promising Sports Turf Student of the Year, 30-year-old Callum Allsop is senior sports turf and grounds manager at Leicester City FC’s Belvoir Drive training ground – a 24-acre site comprising pitches and training areas of varying constructions overseen by Callum and a team of 11 staff. That Leicester City is a club of great ambition has been seen in its headline-grabbing victories and recruitment, and that is matched behind the scenes where plans are well advanced for the move to a new 181-acre facility. This will include the equivalent of 16 full-size pitches, 16 acres of woodland and nine holes of golf, and it is occupying the majority of Callum’s time. Given his background, he appreciates that “it’s my perfect job”.

At a time when the industry is wondering how to attract younger recruits, Callum’s journey to this position offers valuable insight. Cutting pitches aged 14 for the team managed by his dad, he sought a career in football after leaving school only to be told by an agency that it would be difficult. He secured a greenkeeping apprenticeship at Lutterworth Golf Club and says his time there was enjoyable and rewarding, helping him develop practical skills and an understanding of the need for record keeping and planning. However, by his own admission, he could never reach an allconsuming interest in the game as he “is not very good at golf” and “football has always been my sport”. Subsequently, when Leicester City advertised for an assistant groundsperson, Callum was keen to apply.

While there are similarities in managing the physical properties of modern golf green constructions and top-level football pitches, it was Callum’s research and attention to detail that made a vital contribution to his successful interview. He explains that he employed an attitude that he learnt at school – to prepare thoroughly. He investigated mowing heights, how to mark the pitches and the types of task that would be expected of him. It clearly left an impression and, he says, he was “stunned” to receive the congratulatory phone call.

Team support

Since starting with the Foxes in 2014, Callum has enjoyed a rapid rise, mirroring the success of the football team and reflecting head of sports turf and grounds, John Ledwidge’s development of the other on-pitch team. Callum jokes that the end of every season has seemed to herald a celebratory event and is quick to recognise the role his colleagues have played in his personal success.

Callum (far right) is grateful for the experience he’s gained at Leicester City, including (right and bottom right) off-pitch landscaping

Andy Carmichael Freelance writer

“I appreciate what I’ve achieved and where I’ve come from,” he says, “and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities I’ve had from John and the team.” Of his GMA award, he adds: “I wouldn’t have done well if the grounds team hadn’t been supportive.”

That award was based on his approach to the Level 3 Sports Turf Management programme, an accreditation he undertook on a remote learning basis with Myerscough College and received in December. Having already attained the Level 2 qualification in Work-Based Horticulture (Sports Turf) while at Lutterworth, Callum clearly enjoyed the opportunity for greater study, despite many late nights in front of the computer and the familiar challenge to grounds staff of maintaining an appropriate work-lifelearning balance.

An important piece of advice he is keen to promote is to tackle assignments in a timely fashion. “When you are set work, do it straight away, even if that’s just a little bit,” he says, rather than letting the tasks gather dust and become onerous. Aware that the education route is not always straightforward for some in the industry, his attitude is to treat each submission “as if it were a portfolio you want to share at an interview”, taking pride in the opportunity to showcase your abilities. Highly complimentary about the support he received from his college tutor, longterm Callum would like to add more certificates to his wall, but first there is maintaining the quality of Belvoir Drive and being part of organising the move to the larger site.

Continuing development

Callum’s major project for his higher sports turf qualification focused on off-pitch landscaping, something that will be particularly relevant at the new training facility and reflects the way his duties have altered as he has risen to a managerial level. Acknowledging how much of an “eye-opener” his initial experience of how many academy players there were to accommodate across the site (the club having a good track record of graduating youngsters to the first team), Callum feels that people have also been successfully developed within the grounds team so roles can be confidently handed on as each person progresses. Communication and organisation are key, “so we can build a team that will carry on what we take pride in ourselves”.

Included in Callum’s recent projects was taking responsibility for a machinery tender – which meant spending a lot of time in front of the computer – as well as being heavily involved with the club’s sport science department, testing pitches to identify the likely impacts on players and the choices they make. In language familiar with successful Olympic programmes, he mentions the crucial “one to two per cent gains” that may make the difference to outcomes and appreciates “what we do to the pitches can affect the results”.

To this end there is a close working relationship between all club staff, and it is this spirit of togetherness and attention to detail that defines the ongoing success of both Leicester City FC and Callum. ■