Now that Phase 3 of the GMA’s Grounds and Natural Turf Improvement Programme has been renamed the Pitch Advisory Service and industry experts are expanding its reach across the country’s community sport facilities, we highlight the progress this programme has made.
As we experience climate extremes, our turf advisory consultant, Alex Vickers, looks at pitch management techniques to ensure safe surfaces to play on; and when it comes to managing problematic plant parasitic nematodes, Dr Deborah Cox explains why forward planning is key.
We also look at the Football Foundation’s aims for women’s football after the Lionesses lit up Wembley Stadium, aided by the surfaces prepared by our sector. And we focus on how the grounds teams are preparing excellent playing surfaces at the New Zealand Rugby World Cup, as well as the delayed RLWC21 tournament venues, which already have excellent grounds staff in place at rugby league clubs St Helens and Huddersfield Giants, as well as football clubs such as Arsenal and Manchester United.
We also highlight the playing surfaces at Qatar’s FIFA World Cup venues, where our industry and suppliers have played a major role.
In all these events we can take pride in our work, our knowledge and our skills – as without grounds professionals and volunteers, there would be no game.
Geoff Webb, GMA CEO
GROUNDS MANAGEMENT
REGULARS
4 TWO-MINUTE UPDATE News from across the industry
7 BRIEFING
SALTEX: An international affair; the GMA’s Five-Year Strategy; targeted learning through the GMA’s Training Needs Analyses service at Mill Hill School Foundation
19 FOOTBALL FOUNDATION UPDATE
A funding commitment for multi-sport facilities; the Football Foundation’s CEO shares his UEFA Euros legacy plans for women’s football
25 PAS UPDATE
Making nationwide pitch improvement a reality
39 TECHNICAL INSIGHT Minimising the impact of climate change; nematode management
45 IN ACTION Products used by Warrington Wolves, Hartpury University and College, and Garsons Group for their grounds management
47
MAINTENANCE TIPS
What to do in winter
50 PRODUCT SHOWCASE
The very latest product news from GKB, Redexim, Aspen and Wiedenmann
FEATURES
16 RAISING THE BAR
We share an update on sportsturf apprenticeship qualifications
28 RUGBY WORLD CUP NZ
A Q&A with Karl Johnson on overseeing pitch preparation for this year’s tournament in New Zealand
30 DESERT CHALLENGE
Colin Hoskins talks to FIFA senior pitch management manager Alan Ferguson about meeting FIFA World Cup pitch challenges in Qatar
36 2021 RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP
Venue preparations at sports stadia across the UK for international men’s, women’s and wheelchair rugby league competitions
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The GMA welcomes Chris Hunter, regional pitch advisor (football) for the North East. He brings 14 years’ practical experience managing different sportsturf surfaces. Prior to joining the GMA, he spent three years as a tutor and course manager on the Level 2 and 3 Sports Turf Apprenticeships at Askham Bryan College.
Chris said: “During my time in the industry, I have admired the great work the GMA has done. I have an enormous passion for sport and playing surfaces, and I’m very excited to be part of the team.”
The GMA is set to tackle the key issues highlighted by volunteers and professionals within its Annual Workforce Survey, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of global events and the UK’s current cost of living crisis.
Alongside the GMA’s 2022 Workforce Survey report, the GMA has reset its Five-Year Strategy, first launched in 2021. This outlines six priority areas that will help to achieve three long-term goals: to attract new talent and accelerate the growth of a diverse workforce; to support sustainable business growth and protect the sector’s interests; and to build industry reputation, and promote the sector’s contribution to society and the economy.
The six strategic priority areas are workforce development, people and culture, services and support, industry representation, data and digitisation, and funding and investment.
Commenting on these objectives, GMA CEO Geoff Webb said: “We know the challenges that the groundscare industry faces and the findings from our Annual Workforce Survey echo those issues. While we have made progress since revealing the results of our 2019 research report, Groundsmanship–Sport’s Vital Profession, the trends originally identified still remain. To make a positive difference at pace we need to work together as a sector, as collaboration will be key to our success.” Readthefullstoryat:tinyurl.com/4r8pmnxs
The European Commission has published recommendations on how it plans to restrict ‘intentionally added microplastics’ being sold on the European market, due to environmental concerns. Included within this definition is polymeric granulate used as sports performance infill within 3G pitches.
There have been growing concerns over the increasing volume of microplastics found in the environment. These don’t biodegrade and tend to accumulate unless they are specifically designed to biodegrade.
As part of its wider plans for microplastics, the European Commission will recommend ending the sale of intentionally added microplastic infill (which is most commonly end-of-life tyre shred) for synthetic turf systems. The recommendation is to stop all sales of rubber infill within six years.
n Read the European Synthetic Turf Council’s (ESTC) position paper on microplastic infills at: bit.ly/3RgHW2h
The Football Foundation is enabling more people to have more access to highquality sports facilities with the announcement that by 2025 the charity plans to commit 40 per cent of its investment, worth £92m over the next three years, into multi-sport projects that support football, rugby, cricket, netball and basketball.
The charity is also expanding its PitchPower web app for use by other sports. Designed to improve the standards of grass pitches in England, the app has been open to football facilities since 2020, but will now be available to rugby league and rugby union, with cricket following in 2023.
The app enables community clubs and organisations to carry out and submit sport-specific grass pitch inspections, with experts from the GMA providing bespoke advice and recommendations. Seepage19formoreinformation.
Many within the industry mourned the recent loss of Steve Braddock. He was without doubt an outstanding leader and mentor to many successful peers in sportsturf management.
GMA CEO Geoff Webb said: “His service to Arsenal Football Club over decades, and his ability to drive innovation and engage many in this sector with his knowledge and ability to stretch those lucky enough to witness his work ethic, has lifted our industry to new heights.
“Everyone respected Steve for the way he led research. He was not afraid to try new things and to take risks, and he always got outstanding results. Steve has left an indelible mark and an enduring legacy for this industry, which is why he was inducted into the GMA’s Hall of Fame in 2020.”
John was an integral member of the SALTEX site team and, with his dedicated teammates led by Derek Walder, witnessed many changes throughout the event’s evolution. He also volunteered at Scotsturf, which ran from 1984 to 2003.
Redexim has appointed former TigerTurf UK managing director Paul Langford as director of commercial operations to support the company’s continued growth and spearhead commercial activities.
Armed with an excellent track record for building successful B2B and B2C relationships, and driving business change, Paul will lead the team of regional sales managers and develop the overall sales and marketing strategies to further cement Redexim’s position at the heart of the natural and synthetic turf maintenance sectors. Paul said: “I’m a big believer that business should be approached with a strong sense of purpose, the right tools and the right plan to deliver excellence.”
“John had a magical calming influence at every event he was involved in,” said GMA CEO Geoff Webb. “Nothing was too much trouble, and his quiet and intelligent sense of humour made him an invaluable asset to the team.
“He was a fantastic example of someone giving up their time to help others and having an understanding of community. John made a real difference without ever seeking the limelight.”
Britain’s exhibition scene is back to pre-COVID-19 levels, with international exhibitors and visitors from more than 40 countries registering to attend SALTEX 2022
The overwhelming overseas support is proof of the continuing strength of the show, which celebrates its 76th year. Colleagues from all sectors of the sportsturf and groundscare industry will convene at the Birmingham NEC for SALTEX 2022. Here’s what some had to say.
Francesco Dotto, president of GrassMed, the Mediterranean Grounds Association, tweeted: “[SALTEX] is the most important green fair in Europe for professionals, but also for those who wish to approach sustainable groundsmanship.”
Derk Pelle, content marketeer at SGL, based in the Netherlands, said: “SALTEX is an inspiring, international event where turf professionals come together to exchange knowledge and learn about the latest innovations in the industry and engage with turf professionals face to face.”
Matthew Williams, national account manager, turf, UK and Ireland, at Compo-Expert, said: “European visitors come to SALTEX as they recognise it as the best golf and groundsmanship event in Europe.”
Daryl Davidson, head groundsman at Sydney University, Australia, said:
“This is a great opportunity to catch up with a heap of new and old friends from our great industry. It was an easy decision to jump on board”.
Damien Loiseau, import/export manager at Garden Equipment, said: “We come with innovative and quality products that really make life easier. Having had the chance to visit in the past, SALTEX is the place to be for the British market.”
Learning LIVE sessions at SALTEX are popular with attendees
The GMA’s Five-Year Strategy is well underway and is focused on bringing our members and our industry into the next generation working and replacing long-standing face-to-face events and training with online solutions.
The GMA has embarked on an ambitious programme of expansion and growth as it gears up to deliver its new Five-Year Strategy.
The initiative will see the association focusing on six clear priority areas to achieve three specific long-term goals. One-year delivery plans will set out short- and medium-term objectives to ensure that progress and plans are kept on track.
The GMA’s strategic plans, which were developed in 2019, were put on hold following the COVID-19 pandemic, and the association diverted resources to adapt to the changing working environment by facilitating remote
With the brand transition from IOG to GMA now complete, the association has reviewed and reset the strategy and, since April 2022, has been building the internal capability required to deliver this on behalf of its members and the wider industry.
As well as positions for two new directors heading communications, and commercial and events, the GMA has expanded its Pitch Advisory Service and welcomed four employees into the membership, communications, and commercial and events teams.
GMA CEO Geoff Webb said: “With the continued support of our chair and board, we are investing to ensure we have the capability and infrastructure required to meet the increasingly complex needs of members and the groundscare sector.
“This year has been about investment for the future – in terms of people and our technological infrastructure. Next year will see us move from capability building to implementation as we start to promote the sector’s contribution to society and to the economy. We will build reputation, as well as support sustainable business growth and protect the interests of those working in the sector. This will help us to attract new talent and accelerate the growth of a diverse workforce.”
The Mill Hill School Foundation is a group of seven schools and Michael Llong has been the grounds manager for four of them for the past three years. He oversees the maintenance of 160 acres of winter sports pitches, natural grass athletics areas, cricket pitches and artificial sports surfaces – plus two heritage gardens, a maze, woodlands, roads, paths and fencing on the properties.
During his short tenure at the Foundation, Michael has set up a longterm resource improvement strategy, which meant a reduction of grounds team members from 16 to seven – as well as additional support from temporary
summer staff during school events –with the support of the school’s senior leadership team.
“Our department has definitely become more efficient since downsizing,” Michael explains. “The Foundation previously employed a head groundsperson at each of the four schools. Now we employ a head groundsperson who oversees the grounds team and a head gardener who oversees the gardens team, and they work across all four school sites. The benefit of this reshuffle has meant that staff members with specialist skills are now able to focus on their specific areas of work.”
From left to right: David Lewis (gardens), Chase O’Sullivan (apprentice), Oleg Pavlovs (grounds), Ian Gaul (head groundsman), Mathew McKellow (senior groundsman), James Mainsfield (head gardener), Chris Evans (gardens), Michael Llong (grounds manager)
Michael’s strategy also included staff development, which involved a process of upskilling members of his current workforce. On a practical level, he continues to arrange regular staff visits to other workplaces and encourages his team to work with contractors on large onsite projects. The most recent included sports pitch irrigation along with primary and secondary drainage installation, a landscaping redesign that included uniform planting across the four schools, as well as new path and road installations across all four sites.
“Usable space across the sites is restricted due to being situated on
Apprenticeships are evolving, with the industry looking to develop a higherlevel Sports Turf Level 5 Apprenticeship. We find out how it is progressing
BY JONATHAN KNOWLES, LANTRA AWARDS ASSESSOR AND LEICESTER CITY FOOTBALL CLUB SPORTS TURF ACADEMY MANAGERThe new standard Level
2 Sports Turf Operative Apprenticeship, originally introduced in 2016, has been under review by the industry’s representative employer group and it is expected that new apprentices will be enrolled on this programme later this year.
The details of any changes are yet to be released, but the training scheme will have an end-point assessment (EPA), which will include an online exam, identifications and a practical day that covers the main tasks of sportsturf over a 20- to 22-month period. It may also include a professional discussion that would be based on an apprentice’s completed work experience.
This new type of ‘standard’ apprenticeship is different to the previous ‘framework’ apprenticeship and has three distinct phases.
First, a mandatory ‘on-programme’ 12-month training phase, which means there is no fast track to gaining an apprenticeship in a shorter time period.
Second, the gateway phase, which is a formal sign-off that proves the apprentice is ready for final assessment.
Finally, assessment methods during the EPA phase will typically be a written and/or a multiple-choice exam, a practical day or presentation, and a professional discussion. This will determine whether an apprentice has
THE LEVEL 3 NEW ADVANCED SPORTS TURF TECHNICIAN RELEASE IS IMMINENT AND IS CURRENTLY WAITING FOR STANDARD AND EPA APPROVAL
Apprentices are expected to be enrolled in the new programme this year
n Askham Bryan College
n Barnsley College
n Berkshire College of Agriculture (BCA)
n Bishop Burton College
n Bridgwater and Taunton College
n East Durham College
n Keits Training Services Ltd
n Myerscough College
n North Kent College
n Reaseheath College
n Shipley College
n South Staffordshire College
n Suffolk New College
n The Oldham College
n Train Together Ltd
n Warkwickshire College
n Wiltshire College and University Centre
n Writtle University College
Source searched (August 2022): findapprenticeshiptraining. apprenticeships.education.gov.uk/ courses/145
the required skills, knowledge and behaviours, and confirm their level of attainment – a pass, merit or distinction.
On completion, the apprentice will receive an Apprenticeship certificate from the Institute for Apprenticeship and Technical Education on their successful achievement via the employer.
For those wishing to progress from their current Level 2 to Level 3 standard, the Level 3 Sports Turf Apprenticeship will be reinstated.
This new Advanced Sports Turf Technician release is imminent and is currently waiting for standard and EPA approval on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education website. This will be available to those working in sportsturf, grounds maintenance and golf greenkeeping.
The Level 3 qualification will take 24 months to complete and will include an emphasis on supervision, mentoring/ advising, evaluating gathered data relating to sportsturf performance, project work supervision, budgets and effective communication.
The required knowledge and skill sets will include overseeing the preparation of playing surfaces; the use of technologies; estimating and issuing maintenance plans; supervising machinery maintenance; soil, water and moisture management; evaluating turf products (fertilisers, bio-stimulants, surfactants, plant protection products etc); and promoting sustainable grounds maintenance.
Additional qualifications in pesticide application are mandatory and will be included in the funding if they have not already been achieved. Similarly, candidates must also have Level 2 in
The Football Foundation has launched a funding commitment for multi-sport facilities that will ensure more places to play in our communities
BY LIAM HANSON, FOOTBALL FOUNDATION COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS EXECUTIVEThe investment from the Premier League, the Football Association (FA) and Government charity the Football Foundation has traditionally been focused on improving football facilities only. However, the ultimate goal for the charity is to transform lives and strengthen communities by providing great places to play a wider range of sports.
Football can act as an enabler to boost multi-sport participation and that’s why, by 2025, the Football Foundation plans to commit 40 per cent of its investment in multi-sport projects that will support football as well other sports – including rugby, cricket, netball and basketball. This £92m three-year investment will be used to provide increased access to sports facilities so that more people can play the nation’s favourite sports.
Natural turf pitches are essential to grassroots sport, yet the state of grass pitches is consistently highlighted by local clubs and organisations as the biggest issue they face. In the last full season alone, more than 150,000 football matches were called off due to pitches being unplayable and groundskeepers have faced further challenges due to the drought conditions this past summer.
The outcome of the Lionesses’ Euros victory should be equal access to playing opportunities and facilities for all women and girls across England
BY ROBERT SULLIVAN, CEO, FOOTBALL FOUNDATION
The wonderful and inspiring scenes as the Lionesses lifted the trophy at the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 came at a very reflective moment for those who are tasked with enabling grassroots sport. Almost exactly 10 years from the glorious summer of 2012, the argument still rages over ‘legacy’ and what impact the London Olympics and Paralympics had in delivering a positive behavioural change in sports participation.
Legacy has become a difficult word –seemingly inextricably linked to any major sporting event bid, yet often ambiguous and problematic in its aftermath. While many have written at length in recent weeks about the legacy of the Women’s Euros, I want to focus specifically on three areas that could really make a difference and allow for a genuine and sustainable participation impact to emerge from the Lionesses’ success.
First, young girls coming to football for the first time need a great place to play. At the Football Foundation, we believe that high-quality, accessible and inclusive facilities are vital to welcoming new participants to any sport –and to keep them interested, enjoy their experience and come back for more. Football Foundation grants have supported more than 6,000 women’s and girls’ teams over the past 22 years.
In the weeks since the England women’s victory, stories have already emerged of local clubs being inundated with requests from parents wishing to sign up their daughters to play football. This surge in demand is going to put even greater pressure on the number and quality of facilities across England. The Football Foundation, with the investment support of the Premier League, the Football Association (FA),
Sport England and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), will meet this challenge.
Second, there needs to be a cultural change around equal access. A great new pitch will not enable growth in women’s and girls’ football if they can’t get on it. Too often, the best pitches and the best playing slots are booked up before the women’s and girls’ teams get a look in. Clubs and facility operators need to reflect on this ‘old thinking’. At the Football Foundation, we will not fund a
WE EXPECT THOSE WHO RECEIVE OUR FUNDING TO USE THEIR FACILITIES TO OPTIMISE THE GROWING OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN’S AND GIRLS’ FOOTBALL OR RISK LOSING THEIR GRANTS
Phase 3 of the GMA’s Grounds and Natural Turf Improvement Programme was renamed the Pitch Advisory Service and industry experts expanded its reach across the country’s community sport facilities. Here, we celebrate its successes
BY NATHAN WOODFORD-RÔTT, GMA SENIOR COMMUNICATIONS, MARKETING AND PR EXECUTIVE
T his past year has been a highly significant one for the GMA’s Pitch Advisory Service (PAS). As the Phase 3 objective was centred around ‘planning for the future’, the programme received a boost from
experts in the field, as well as internal capability, which has resulted in many of the programme’s annual targets having been surpassed.
Over the last year, the Pitch Advisory Service team has expanded to provide
a dedicated service for an increasing number of sports. Previously, the programme included key account managers Tom Rowley for football and Ian MatherBrewster for cricket, with eight regional pitch advisors
spread throughout England. Under the new structure, key account managers
Darren Symonds and Richard Eastham have also been appointed to manage the rugby union and rugby league accounts respectively.
These managers work alongside 11 regional pitch advisors, including one senior regional pitch advisor, Julien Morris, who are each assigned to a sport and a region of England. This new structure enables advisors to focus on a specific sport and their ability to tailor the expert advice they provide to help more grounds staff who work in community sport.
Currently funded by Sport England and the Football Foundation, and working in association with the England and Wales Cricket Board, the Rugby Football League and the Rugby Football Union, this year the GMA’s extended PAS team has successfully rolled out the programme across the county.
For example, the team of regional pitch advisors who work within cricket have exceeded their target for face-to-face pitch assessments by 179 per cent and have successfully delivered several informative seminars. This increase in engagement within the cricket community has also resulted in a 47 per cent
increase in the number of cricket county pitch advisors who are helping to improve pitch conditions across the country.
The appointment of a key account manager for rugby league has also been integral to expanding the team’s reach to a multitude of pitches across the country. In the six months leading to March 2022, Richard
Tom leads a team of six regional pitch advisors within his role. Before joining the GMA, he spent six years at Leicester City FC, where he helped to maintain the club’s training grounds and the immaculate pitch at the King Power Stadium.
Ian Mather-Brewster, cricket
Ian leads his team of two regional pitch advisors within the cricket team. Armed with 28 years’ experience of being a practising groundsperson and a former county/ regional pitch advisor, Ian’s understanding of cricket turf management is second to none.
He has a passion for raising the profile of grounds management and inspiring the next generation of cricket grounds staff.
Darren leads a team of three regional pitch advisors in the rugby union team. He joined the GMA in January 2015 and worked for six years as the regional advisor for the South East, during which time he gained a FdSc in Sportsturf Science (distinction).
Richard covers the whole of England within his PAS role, which he has held for the past year. His grounds management career included the role of head groundsman at Chorley FC and Preston North End. He also worked at Liverpool FC for nine years and more recently held the role of deputy head groundsman at Manchester City FC’s City Football Academy.
THE TEAM WHO WORK WITHIN CRICKET HAVE EXCEEDED THEIR TARGET FOR FACE-TO-FACE PITCH ASSESSMENTS BY 179 PER CENTRugby is benefiting from PAS support
We ask FMG Stadium turf manager Karl Johnson about overseeing training ground pitch preparation for the Women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand
BY KAREN MAXWELL
What did your World Rugby role entail and how did you work this around your duties at FMG Stadium in Hamilton, New Zealand?
A couple of years ago, I was asked to assist World Rugby with ensuring the selected training venues were up to tournament expectations. COVID-19 put the work back a year, but we then got back on track to ensure the pitches were up to World Rugby standards.
Due to rugby being a massive sport in New Zealand (NZ), the biggest challenge was always going to be preparing the pitches after they have had a busy winter as most of the training venues are club grounds that endure heavy winter usage. The biggest priority was ensuring all the venues came through the winter in good shape, and had detailed renovations planned and implemented ahead of the tournament period.
I am fortunate that my role as turf manager at FMG Stadium Waikato (rugby) and at Seddon Park (cricket) allows me to undertake projects such as this. My employer, H3 (Hamilton City Council), is aware I take on extra projects, but these are all done in my own time.
Having a great relationship with my employer means these projects become a ‘win-win’ for us both. I always learn things from the people I work with during projects, and I really enjoy being able to pass on my 36 years of turf experience to others. I work on the principle of ‘each one teach one’. This means if I learn something from someone, it’s then up to me to pass that learning onto someone else.
What are the pitch requirements for the tournament?
The main priority is always player safety. Ensuring the players are provided with high-quality, safe surfaces that allow them to show off their skills has always been the criteria set by World Rugby.
Presentation is key as well, as NZ venues were broadcasted all over the globe. NZ grounds staff take huge pride in their work, and this is something I have personally witnessed and been proud of throughout my career.
When are pitches renovated in NZ and what is the maintenance approach?
Most NZ venues would renovate in spring (September) and autumn (April). There were 16 training venues and three match venues used for the tournament, which all had different pitch preparation
requirements – from a natural turf club football pitch in Ngungaru to a hybrid turf system at Auckland’s Eden Park. They all had their own set programmes and maintenance processes to follow. I didn’t go in and set these for the grounds teams – I just worked alongside and mentored those who needed support.
It has been a low-key approach, with communication contributing greatly to the success of this model. Some venues required some extra assistance and work, whereas others were doing what they always do well.
The grounds staff who prepared these three venues were world class and very experienced, so no specific workshops were needed.
In your opinion, will the tournament help to encourage more women and girls to get involved with the game?
There was a lot of advertising across NZ in the run-up to the tournament. This was very family orientated, with tickets being affordable for all.
Women’s and girls’ rugby is on an increase in NZ and I have no doubt that hosting the World Cup will boost this interest. New Zealanders are very keen on their rugby, so I’m sure it will leave a lasting legacy for all.
NZ GROUNDS STAFF TAKE HUGE PRIDE IN THEIR WORK, AND THIS IS SOMETHING I HAVE WITNESSED AND BEEN PROUD OF THROUGHOUT MY CAREER
We catch up with FIFA senior pitch management manager Alan Ferguson to find out how Qatar’s pitches are shaping up for the 2022 FIFA World Cup
BY COLIN HOSKINS, FREELANCE WRITER
The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 has broken World Cup records even before the first ball has been kicked. Not only because the tournament is the first to be staged in a country where the high daytime temperatures are expected to be 35–37°C (and could exceed 40°C) nor because the event has set a new high in ticket sales of more than one million… and counting. But also because each of the eight match stadia are the first in the world to have precisely controlled pitch temperatures.
This feat is achieved via integrated systems of above-surface air
n be maintained by fully trained staff – a programme of workshops delivered pitch education to 611 members of the grounds teams at the stadia and at the training sites.
These requirements were relayed to Aspire Sports Turf (see ‘FIFA’s pitch care hierarchy’, below) whose 23-strong team ran all the subsequent procurement processes for the turfcare equipment, as well as the specialised technologies such as pitch installation, vacuum systems and grow lights. Aspire works
with the contractors to carry out the day-to-day tasks.
“FIFA knew that bringing the World Cup to the Middle East would not be easy,” Alan says. “But each stadium pitch has been set up in the same way, with only minor local differences that depend on the angle of the pitch to the sun. We were always going to manage the microclimates and allow pitch renovations to be undertaken in August/September (rather than mid-December, the norm for this part of the world). We had to create
Alan and his FIFA pitch management team members –Kaj Heyral, Kris Puzio and Christian Stiegler – sit within FIFA World Cup Division’s stadium infrastructure team. While Alan deals with the day-to-day and overall build of the pitch projects and tournament deliveries of all World Cup tournaments, both Christian and Kaj help him with the politics surrounding each project and manage the budgets.
In Qatar, Alan is working closely with Aspire Sports Turf, which is part of the supreme committee from the host country and ensures FIFA pitch requirements are met by the contractors (611 people work on the stadia and training ground pitches).
Alan also has a team of pitch venue managers drawn from clubs and stadia around the world – including several head groundspeople/grounds
environments where the ryegrass could be oversown in temperatures of up to 45°C – we could only do this by artificial means and this has never been done before on this scale.” Turf height will be maintained at 20mm for the matches.
Alan explains: “All pitches are tested daily to international standards and the results are entered into our GrasPro pitch management data collection system. This allows the performance features of every pitch to be tracked to ensure pitch conditions remain optimal, with appropriate agronomic support coming from iTurf under the guidance of its chief technical officer, Andy Cole.
“We’ve been tracking pitch performance for almost three years and have a fantastic data bank, which will also enable us to create base requirements for the 2026 World Cup pitch programme. The full real test of the Doha pitches was undertaken in 2021 during the FIFA Arab Cup (the test event for the 2022 World Cup) with matches staged at each of the eight stadia. All pitches showed good results.”
managers from the UK – who will be in Doha for three weeks to each ‘look after’ one stadium and five training sites by offering expert support to the local grounds teams.
Alan and his FIFA colleagues also work in the World Cup tournament group: Men’s and Women’s U-17, Men’s and Women’s U-20, FIFA World Cup Men, FIFA World Cup Women and Club World Cup.
ALL PITCHES ARE TESTED DAILY TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS AND THE RESULTS ARE ENTERED INTO OUR GRASPRO DATA COLLECTION SYSTEMInstalling new turf at Lusail Stadium Two of the 611-strong grounds team maintain the turf height Al Thumama Stadium’s pitch under construction
We explore this year’s Rugby League World Cup venue preparations and the tournament’s projected legacy outcomes
BY AARON GALES, RLWC COMMUNICATIONS LEADThis year’s Rugby League World Cup (RLWC21), which is taking place at venues across England after a year’s delay due to COVID-19, is the first time that the men’s, women’s and wheelchair competitions are being run side by side.
In the run-up to the event, the organising committee has offered support to all its host venues regarding pitch preparation – whether that be guidance on rugby league-specific markings, knowledge sharing opportunities or support in sourcing the necessary equipment.
A variety of criteria were put in place when the committee went through the process of assessing venues for the tournament’s 61 matches. Clearly, there was a practical element in terms of venues having the appropriate facilities in place to host a major sporting event and there also needed to be the desire from the venue to get involved.
A total of 61 matches will be played during the RLWC21 at various venues throughout England, which have been meticulously prepared for the event
As a sport that has a strong association with ‘the north’, the committee wanted to use the profile of the World Cup to take rugby league to new places and grow the game further afield, which is why hosting one of the men’s semi-finals at the Emirates Stadium – home of Arsenal FC and the first time the venue has staged a major sporting event that isn’t football –is so important for taking the game to a new audience.
Warrington, on the other hand, is a well-known, passionate rugby league area and Warrington Wolves RLFC has been hugely supportive, not just of the tournament, but of community rugby league and in particular Physical Disability Rugby League (PDRL). The club was a natural fit to be one of our tournament hosts and it will stage three men’s group games as well as one of the men’s quarter finals.
Warrington’s passion for PDRL also made it the natural choice to host the PDRL tournament, which will be the
RLWC21 pitch dimensions are standard across all venuesM any of us have had to mitigate the effects of climate change in sportsturf management over the past few years as weather patterns become more extreme.
In clay soils, for example, it is almost impossible to avoid cracking during dry
periods and, if your pitch is drained, settlement along the drain lines too. The only way to prevent this is irrigation, but this is expensive and in drought periods it can be difficult to justify.
However, the impact of drainage on drought
tolerance can be minimised by careful design, such as using rootzone instead of sand as backfill. Nevertheless, if you want your drainage to work, it will inevitably make your drought issues worse.
The degree of cracking on winter sports pitches
and cricket outfields can be managed to some extent by regularly slitting the pitch when it is soft enough. This puts lots of lines of weakness in the soil, which result in more cracks, but fewer wide ones, although you need to slit in various directions.
As we experience more significant climate extremes, what alternative pitch management techniques can we employ to ensure safe surfaces for play throughout the year?
When it comes to managing problematic plant parasitic nematodes in sportsturf, planning ahead is essential
BY DR DEBORAH COX, MOLECULAR BIOLOGIST AND MD, LAGAN VALLEY SCIENTIFICNematodes, microscopic roundworms, are naturally occurring organisms and an important part of the soil food web, and to find them in turfgrass is completely normal. However, while the majority are harmless, a fraction of these organisms depend on plants to survive and are highly damaging.
Particularly in new rootzone constructions, plant parasitic nematodes (PPN) populations can build to critical levels in a short amount of time, which affects plant performance, susceptibility to stress and interaction with other pathogens.
Importantly, in situations where critically high PPN populations require management, the goal isn’t to completely eliminate them; instead, we can aim to improve plant vigour through the use of biostimulants, introduce cultural practices to reduce stress and consider applying
a nematicide treatment at the appropriate time in the life cycle to relieve pressure by reducing the population.
Nematode issues in coolseason turf are becoming more common across all turf types. Due to their ubiquitous nature, climate change and a shrinking list of treatment options
specifically in turf, a proactive and open mindset is needed to be best prepared for the biological challenges that may lie ahead.
Symptoms of nematode damage (chlorosis, thinning, wilting, unexpected response to irrigation or fertilisation etc) can be more pronounced when abiotic stress is high and decline in the sward can often be mistaken for other issues because of the generic nature of the plant response.
As an industry, we are more data driven now than ever before. Creating records of where and when potential symptoms develop is an important first task because issues can reoccur in the same area. Imaging (especially from above) and marking suspicious positions as accurately as possible on a map are invaluable because they will enable you to return to the same position at a later time to reassess a situation, regardless of the severity of the symptoms.
Nematode test results are essential in planning and an accurate assessment begins with a sound sampling plan. Sampling guidance can vary on a case-by-case basis depending on symptoms severity and distribution.
As a general rule of thumb, aim to reasonably restrict the overall sampling area wherever possible.
Eight 15cm-deep cores of 1.5cm diameter that are representative of the symptoms per ~250sq m tends to work very well across a range of soil and turf types. Data in historical reports can help guide sampling because the same type of nematode tends to recur spatially (horizontally). However, nematode populations fluctuate a lot (temporally and vertically), so discussing
Climate change means cyst nematodes (Heterodera, left) are becoming more of a problem on, for example, bowling greens and tennis courts, while Meloidogyne (centre) and Hemicycliophora (right) are two nematodes that affect stadia pitches
A PROACTIVE AND OPEN MINDSET IS NEEDED TO BE PREPARED FOR THE BIOLOGICAL CHALLENGES THAT MAY LIE AHEAD
The GMA’s seasonal maintenance guide to help you keep your sports surfaces in top condition all year round
n Earthworm casts may be present, so regular drag brushing and aeration to keep the surface open to improve surface drainage and drying may help reduce the effects of earthworm activity.
n Drag brush or switch to remove morning dew, and to disperse casts during dry, windy conditions.
n Watch out for disease pressures during mild, damp spells, and consider applying a low-nitrogenbalanced fertiliser to promote resilience to disease attack if growth is continuing.
n Remove leaves and other debris to prevent the turf being smothered.
n Keep the grass topped at a suitable height, should growth dictate. This will also help to reduce the chance of disease attack in longer grass due to the increased humidity and damper atmosphere among its leaves.
n Ensure machinery is booked in for service
Turf on bowling greens should be kept at a suitable height to prevent disease
and prepare your maintenance schedule for next year, along with a budget requirement.
n Finish off any turf repairs that might be outstanding.
n Ensure the surrounds to the green are clean and tidy, and that any outstanding work is being completed.
n Most likely the square will be too wet to carry out much work once we enter deep winter, but identify opportunities to carry out operations in suitable conditions.
n Carry out or book in services for equipment and machinery.
n If any earthworm activity is noticed, try
not to smear the casts –hand-pick or brush in dry conditions to disperse them instead.
n Remove leaves and other debris to prevent the turf in the square being smothered.
n An autumn/winter, fertiliser application would help sustain grass plant health throughout the off-season.
n If possible, erect fencing to protect the cricket square from animal damage.
n Check for disease activity and, if identified, treat accordingly.
n Continue to brush as regularly as possible to allow the sward to remain upright and to remove excess moisture/dew.
n If possible, aerate using solid tines when conditions allow.
n If the ground conditions allow, mow the sward by topping off lightly with a rotary mower.
n Check for damage routinely, especially if used for winter sports, and make repairs when conditions allow, paying attention to bowlers’ run-up areas.
n Remove leaves and other debris to prevent the turf being smothered. n Subject to growth, if climatic and ground conditions allow, mow by topping off, employing a rotary cut if possible.
n Brushing or turf grooming will aid grass health. Brush to clear dew where possible. Brushing when dry and on a windy day will assist in dispersing worm casts.
n If conditions allow, aeration can improve the condition and quality of the outfield.
n Divoting is a key task at this time of year. Repairs need to be made to maintain a reasonable surface for as long as possible.
n A light topping off might still be required if conditions allow and growth continues.