Improved aeration and intensive overseeding were just two PIP recommendations that transformed Sutton Cold�eld Town Juniors FC’s pitches
ALL-ROUND IMPROVEMENTS Additional equipment and improved pitch maintenance regimes have led to fewer lost games at a Birmingham football club
F By Kevin Duffill Regional pitch advisor
ormed in 1970, Sutton Coldfield Town Juniors FC has grown from 18 teams at the time of my initial visit in 2016 for The Football Association’s Pitch Improvement Programme (PIP), to 24 teams today. The club has also been recently identified as a Birmingham County FA ‘Hub Club’ and has developed a successful collaborative agreement with neighbouring Bishop Walsh School. The 12-acre school site includes three mini soccer pitches, two 9 v 9 pitches and two 11 v 11 pitches. There is also a rugby pitch which, in the long term, will be developed into a premier football pitch. The pitches are heavily used, with at least 10 matches being played every weekend – this equates to more than 300 matches a season. Around three weekends were traditionally lost each season on the main pitches, and four weekends on the mini pitches, due to them becoming compacted and waterlogged.
TOOLS OF THE TRADE
Heavy use meant pitches became compacted and waterlogged
Pitch maintenance is undertaken by the school’s groundsman who, in addition to wider responsibilities, mows using a triple-cylinder mower and marks out. There was originally no equipment for brushing or aeration. After the initial PIP visit, recommendations were made for improved pitch maintenance: the use of selective herbicide for weed control; deep aeration and surface slitting for improved aeration; more
“Surface quality has risen from intermediate to high and there have been fewer postponements” intensive overseeding; an improved fertilisation regime; investment in some new equipment – a compact tractor, a roller mower and a grass care combination system. Following the implementation of the new regime, and a successful funding application for the new machinery, the pitch quality has improved; surface quality has risen from ‘intermediate’ to ‘high’, and there have been fewer postponements. According to club chairman Steve Banks: “PIP has been of critical importance. The initial visit set the direction and follow-up visits have been vital for fine-tuning how the pitches will be developed.” Birmingham FA’s facility development officer Olly Hitchcox said: “This is an excellent example of how a number of partners have worked successfully together to maximise the potential of what is a very significant site for Birmingham FA. As a result, levels of both participation and utilisation have increased, and there are plans to further develop the site.”
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