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THE LATEST HEADLINES FROM THE IOG AND THE INDUSTRY
CRICKET SEMINAR
FREE RENOVATION DAY DENNIS AND SISIS’ cricket renovation day for 2018 will be held at Cheltenham College on 7 August. The free event will feature a mix of indoor presentations and discussions, and outside practical demonstrations. Industry sponsors will also be offering support and advice. To register, contact Roger Moore at Dennis & SISIS on 01332 824777 or email roger.moore@dennisuk.com
ACADEMY PL AN Two-thirds of grass roots pitches are “inadequate”
WEMBLEY SALE
Grassroots-level pitches are “inadequate”, says FA THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION has told a parliamentary hearing that two-thirds of football pitches at grassroots level are inadequate and that the poor facilities actually led to the cancellation of 150,000 matches last season. The figures were revealed at a Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) parliamentary hearing on 28 July to discuss the possible sale of Wembley Stadium. The FA wants to sell the national
“The FA wants to sell the national stadium because it represents a ‘transformative opportunity’ to change ‘the poor state of community football facilities’”
6 THE GROUNDSMAN August 2018
stadium because it represents a “transformative opportunity” to change “the poor state of community football facilities”. It has received an offer of £600m from Fulham owner Shahid Khan. Kenny Saunders, who runs pressure group Save Grassroots Football, said the situation had reached crisis point. “Government cuts to local councils are having a massive impact. Councils can’t maintain pitches and more of them are selling them off. “I would welcome the sale of Wembley if the money is ringfenced for grassroots football and used wisely. We need to build from the bottom.” The FA said that 33 of 50 county FAs are without their own 3G pitch and also that there are twice as many 3G pitches in Germany as there are in England.
TRAINING BOOST LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB (LFC) has confirmed that it will proceed with the redevelopment of its KSS-designed Academy site in Kirkby. The scheme will see the Reds’ First Team and Academy football training operations and facilities come together on one site in a new training campus. The project will provide LFC with world-class training facilities including an Elite Performance Centre for the First Team and state-of-the-art Training Centre for its U23s team.
DOUBLE WIN
AWARDS FOR GLENDALE NATIONAL GREEN SERVICES provider Glendale is celebrating after scooping two industry accolades. The firm was awarded Business Award for Arboriculture Contractor of the Year at The Horticulture Week Business and Custodian Awards. It also picked up the industry magazine’s Custodian Award in the Best Parks Partnership – Commercial category.