The Groundsman August 2018 Online Teaser

THE

GROUNDSMAN WWW.IOG.ORG

AUGUST 2018 £4.00

ACHIEVING EXCELLENCE IN GROUNDS MANAGEMENT

THIRSTY WORK

NEW LEARNING

Carl Reeves boosts knowledge for Eton College page 50

How to deal with drought and keep grounds playing perfectly

BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE

Leicester City FC’s plans for a new training centre

IN S IDE

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION FOR PITCH PRESERVATION IOG BOARD REPORT AND AGM UPDATE BEST NEW BUYS FOR GROUNDS TEAMS SALTEX 2018’S NEW INNOVATION HUB

Contents REGULARS

August 2018 MOVING FORWARD

05 Welcome

A call for industry investment

Leicester City FC grounds team has a new challenge ahead page 16

06 Update

Important industry news and the latest products

12 SALTEX news

Get the low-down on this year’s new Innovation Hub

15 GaNTIP update

A significant pitch overhaul brings new opportunity for Birmingham football teams

37 Product showcase

Artificial surfaces and maintenance, plus sweepers, blowers, collectors and vacs

16

45 Tools & guidance

Maintenance and weather

FEATURES 16 Best practice

Exclusive insight into exciting developments at Leicester City FC

20 Pitch preservation

The benefits of season-long maintenance policies

22 Award sponsor

The best in turf-cooling systems for hot weather

ON THE COVER

20

Drought presents challenges for grounds and greens teams, alike Photo:

24 Board report and AGM

A fantastic year of progress from the Institute revealed

33 In action

Getty Images

Best buys for cricket and more

34 COVER: Tech update

Essential advice on saving water and dealing with drought

50 Grow with the IOG

Eton College’s Carl Reeves

24

50

THE GROUNDSMAN

Editorial address: 28 Stratford Office Village, Walker Avenue, Wolverton Mill East, Milton Keynes, MK12 5TW t: 01908 312511 Managing editor Karen Maxwell e: kmaxwell@iog.org t: 01908 552987 Features editor Colin Hoskins e: editor@iog.org t: 01634 832 221 Product editor Charlie Lyon e: charlie.lyon@jamespembrokemedia.co.uk t: 01225 337777 IOG membership and general enquiries t: 01908 312511 e: membership@iog.org Magazine subscriptions Sue Fernandes t: 01908 312511 e: accounts@iog.org Subscriptions £72 UK, £82 Europe, £112 rest of world Publisher James Houston Head of design Simon Goddard Advertising Jasper Keeling e: sales@jamespembrokemedia.co.uk t: 0203 859 7097 Published by James Pembroke Media The Groundsman is published monthly by the Institute of Groundsmanship. All material is copyright of the Institute of Groundsmanship 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 Institute of Groundsmanship.

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Welcome

Contributors

Karen Maxwell Managing editor

The evidence is clear!

If ever there was a need to proactively invest in the mass of grass pitches that predominate the landscape of football, the evidence that is emerging from the Grounds and Natural Turf Improvement Programme proves the necessity for accelerated investment.

Because 65 per cent of the pitches surveyed were compacted, a large majority of sites visited were not meeting adequate standards as defined by the IOG’s pitch grading standards and many clubs are unaware of the opportunities for training. This evidence-based research has been used by The Football Association as part of the recent select parliamentary hearing regarding the sale of Wembley Stadium.

This sale appears to be edging to a conclusive yes (with conditions) despite Gary Neville’s passionate defence and suggestions of alternatives, which included a levy on agents’ fees or Premier League clubs offering to reduce the seasonal prize money and re-direct some of it to the grassroots game. It’s a bold challenge and it will be interesting to see the reactions these suggestions receive.

Whatever the outcome, it’s imperative that natural turf pitches receive the investment they need and deserve. But it will take a decade of investment to ‘bring them back’ as regrettably without statutory investment in sports provision funding and frontline pitch maintenance skills, many pitches have been decimated. In large, this factor can be traced back to the implementation of compulsory competitive tendering, followed by best value while, in parallel, local authority leisure departments are largely a thing of the past and are now consumed within a wider social services directorate.

The erosion of investment in sports facilities coupled with austerity and a lack of focus has led to the quick-fix approach; a mass investment over the past 18 years into 3G surfaces has been seen as the panacea. But is it? Surely there should be parity of investment into natural turf? With an estimated 44,000 pitches, of which some 92 per cent are natural turf, our evidence shows that pitches can be significantly improved with good advice, knowledge, understanding and training.

Colin Hoskins Features editor

Chris Bennett SALTEX press officer

Chris Gray IOG learning programme architect

Tom Grafen Technical sales engineer, SGL

Whatever comes of the sale of Wembley, and regardless of whether it’s sold, the evidence is clear: natural turf investment is of paramount importance to ensure more matches take place and there are fewer cancellations. It’s not rocket science, it’s just understanding the problem and doing something about it.

Andy Spetch Volunteer head groundsman, Bury St Edmunds RUFC

Geoff Webb Chief Executive The Institute of Groundsmanship

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Kevin Duffill GaNTIP regional pitch advisor

Update

READ MORE

IOG NEWS

Read all the latest news and updates, and discover what members are entitled to www.iog.org

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.

U P D AT E

PRODUCT UPDATE

S H OWC A S E Discover more essential products in our round-up page 33

GROUNDWATER 3 DYNAMICS RIGBY TAYLOR

WANDSWORTH COUNCIL IS using a new vertical drainage system to tackle waterlogged playing surfaces on Wandsworth Common.

The system, from Groundwater Dynamics, uses vertical plastic pipes (EGRP) to draw in excess water horizontally. It is being trialled on three of the council’s seven winter pitches and, if successful, could be rolled out across all 96.

Suitable for all soil types, the system involves drilling a series of bore holes in a grid shape across the playing surfaces.

Each borehole accommodates an Energy-passive Groundwater Recharge Pump (EGRP) pipe, the top of which sits 300mm below the surface. The hole is then ‘plugged’ and top-dressed.

The EGRP draws in water horizontally and this then drains away into the lower unsaturated strata/water table. www.rigbytaylor.com

The latest developments in mowers, drainage and hydration aids

1 SWIFT ROLLER MOWERS

NEWS

The new roller mowers are designed for compact tractors

MAJOR EQUIPMENT

MAJOR EQUIPMENT HAS upgraded its range of tractor-mounted Swift Roller Mowers.

They are available in working widths from 1.9m to 5.4m, and are built light for smaller compact tractors – the mowers are made of Strenx 700 MC high-yield steel.

The mower bodies have now been finished with zinc hot-dip galvanisation, which doubles the

lifespan compared with paint and helps to protect the steel from corrosion.

The roller mowers’ custom-designed gearbox has been upgraded and highspeed blade tips offer higher output.

Major has also introduced a threeyear professional warranty for all models in the range.

For more information, call 01524 850501 or visit the website, www.major-equipment.com

The new vertical drainage system at work

2 OARS AND AQUIFER PELLETS AQUA-AID EU

Breathe life into dry spots with OARS and Aquifer pellets

GROUNDSMEN ACROSS THE UK have been turning to Aqua-Aid EU’s OARS and Aquifer pellets, used with the PROportioner application system, to cope with the prolonged dry spell.

The OARS (organic acid redistribution system) pellets are used to treat localised dry spots (LDS). They help to remove the build-up of organic acids that coat the surface of sand particles causing water repellence.

The product is commonly used with Aquifer, which provides hydration for a 30 to 45-day period. It provides uniform downward and lateral water movement in the top several inches of the root zone and doesn’t need to be watered in after application.

Both pellets can be applied with the PROportioner system, which is designed for use on all types of turf. www.aquaaideu.co.uk

www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 11

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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Visit www.iog.org for more information about GaNTIP www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 15

ELITE FOOTBALL

Wes Morgan during pre-season training at Belvoir Drive. The ground is set to move from the current 24-acre site to a new 180-acre facility

BEST PRACTICE

BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE Leicester City Football Club has firm plans to build on its considerable success as a Premier League club, with a new world-class training ground, as grounds manager John Ledwidge explains 16 THE GROUNDSMAN August 2018

By Colin Hoskins Features editor

BEST PRACTICE ELITE FOOTBALL

The new site will accommodate the �rst team as well as development and academy squads

E

ver since Leicester City Football Club appointed John Ledwidge as grounds manager, he has always professed the wisdom of empowering his grounds team and providing comprehensive training to equip them not only for their current roles but also to help them meet future aspirations.

Now, after four years in the post, he is quick to assert that the club has “a great team of reliable professionals” who successfully maintain and manage the club’s King Power Stadium (led by head groundsman Simon Gibson, who also runs the club’s under-23 facility) and the training ground (where Callum Allsop is head groundsman). Further to this John manages the pitches at Belgium club OudHeverlee Leuven (OHL), on behalf of the owners King Power, where Ollie Makin is head groundsman.

“Having such a reliable team is critical at this stage in the club’s history and its future plans,” says John, as he becomes

“Having such a reliable team is critical at this stage in the club’s history and its future plans”

increasingly involved in the delivery of a new training centre.

Importantly, too, his remit includes a five-year mission to improve and develop the playing surfaces and staff at the site in Leuven, Belgium, to match the standards being attained in the UK at the stadium, at the Belvoir Drive training facility and at the Holmes Park LRCFA HQ, the under-23s venue. “The aim also is to engage with the local people and surrounding sports turf managers to help improve the standard of groundsmanship in Belgium, using OHL as a hub for training and education,” he says.

In season 2016/17, John project managed the upgrade of the local (UK) County FA headquarters, with the club investing in the pitch, new stands and changing rooms to alleviate the demand of fixtures on the stadium pitch.

A STRONG FOUNDATION

Training has (and continues) to play a key role in staff development with, for example, various members of the team now accredited to Level 3 and Level 2, as well as everyone being fully qualified spraying operatives with PA1 and 2a licences. John himself is two years into a business and management HND qualification. The club also works closely with its key equipment and amenity suppliers and they stage a number of education and training events throughout the year.

“The club has always believed in the maxim of training staff so well that they will not only be able to do their current jobs properly but will also be well-equipped for the future, while treating them well enough so that they don’t leave,” John says. “Our aim is to create pathways for everyone, starting with our apprentices.”

It’s a strategy that certainly pays dividends, not least in contesting the annual IOG Industry Awards, with John and his team winning the 2015 Professional Football Grounds Team award and, last year, the IOG SGL Professional Football Grounds Team of the Year Award in a category open to grounds teams from the Premier League, Championship and Scottish Premier League.

“The high standards of presentation and the progression of our grounds team go hand in hand,” he continues. “Every member of the team contributes to the effectiveness of the department, from myself and the head groundsmen who plan and set the strategies for the team members who carry out their duties professionally. They also religiously log the hours of pitch use and keep diaries of the weather, machinery and maintenance operations.”

Both head groundsmen produce weekly plans for the pitches. These are sent to all squad coaches and the daily working frameworks are circulated among the grounds team. The plans also form www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 17

PITCH P R E S E R VAT I O N

T E C H N I C A L U P D AT E

A POLICY FOR SEASONLONG USAGE

An agreed pitch policy can help preserve surfaces and make them playable for a complete season while reducing annual pitch maintenance costs at the same time A universal pitch policy helped transform this Su�olk rugby pitch

H

By Andy Spetch Volunteer head groundsman, Bury St Edmunds RUFC

aving a playing membership of 500 using three full-size pitches, a three-quarters 4G surface and four mini pitches, Bury St Edmunds RUFC in Suffolk finds balancing demand for use while minimising pitch damage is a real issue.

Six years ago, after monitoring training sessions and games, it was clear that skills sessions such as lineouts, rucking and repetitive passing were causing the highest amount of wear in concentrated areas. If the pitches were to last the complete season, a ‘pitch policy’ was needed to ensure the needs of the teams – four senior men’s, ladies, youth from under 12s through to colts and minis aged six to 12 – were met.

The policy’s objectives were to: Improve and maintain the playing surfaces of all pitches to the highest standard Ensure season-long playable pitches.

The policy covers everything from where to carry out pre-season training, lineout practice and pre-match warm-ups through to the management of spectators.

Management of player traffic on the pitches, and keeping training off the playing areas as much as possible, has helped to significantly reduce compaction, especially under the floodlights. This is better known as ‘first floodlight training syndrome’.

Having drafted the policy, it was important to get the club’s buy-in and meetings were held with

20 THE GROUNDSMAN August 2018

“It was important to get the club’s buy-in” the committee, team managers and coaches to get feedback and produce a policy agreed by all.

THE RESULT

Specific zones off the playing areas were introduced and marked out for skills work – which means coaches can deliver the sessions they need while keeping damage to the playing area to a minimum – and run throughs are allowed on the playing areas on a rotational basis, again to reduce overuse on any one area.

On match days, coaches and managers are now asked to meet and greet the opposition and show them where to warm up, and to point out the route to the pitch they will be playing on. This has helped stop opposition players, and their supporters, from walking across one pitch to get to another.

While the pitch policy has also helped to manage expectations and conflict between teams, the greatest results can be seen through the condition of the pitches, the very small number of cancelled games and the reduction in annual maintenance costs, especially in the outlay on seed. Before the introduction of the policy and an annual pitch maintenance plan, overseeding rates would be 25-30g/m2. Today they are down to just 15-20g/m2.

SAV I N G WAT E R

T E C H N I C A L U P D AT E

ADVICE TO TAP INTO

All sports facilities and organisations have a role in conserving water, and grounds staff can help reduce the pressure on resources while also providing good playing surfaces by adapting pitch maintenance routines

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ood club and facility management is essential at all times, and during spells of water shortages and drought everyone should be involved – the committee and management teams – not just grounds staff. Co-ordinating fixtures, facility availability and pitch rotation are all key tasks, and it is important to educate members and users with appropriate messaging on signs and via newsletters, websites and social media. Tough decisions on surface safety, fixture cancellation and 34 THE GROUNDSMAN August 2018

renovation and construction projects may also be needed, and such decisions have a better chance of being understood if there is clear communication with members, users and stakeholders.

HINDSIGHT IS WONDERFUL

In drought areas it is particularly important to use water as efficiently as possible and to minimise waste, as this will help reduce the impact of drought on the environment and on others – including us in our homes – and it will extend the period before hosepipe bans

“It is important to educate members with appropriate messaging on signs and via newsletters, websites and social media”

Tools & guidance MAINTENANCE CALENDAR AND WEATHER UPDATE

MEMBER BENEFITS

The IOG Board report and minutes from the 2017 AGM page 24

SEPTEMBER OPERATIONS BOWLING GREENS

Hollow-tining a green can be readily carried out within a day using a suitable machine that may be designed to collect the cores or staff may be used to brush, rake and shovel up the cores as soon as the machine starts working. If the cores are dry, a litter blower vac can be used to blow most of the cores into defined areas of the green making it easier to remove them.

Once the hollow-tining and clearing up has been completed, the green should be cut to provide a satisfactory playing surface. This hollow-tine operation can also be carried out a second time, at the end of the playing season.

CRICKET SQUARE

With the season now closing, or closed, a thorough renovation of the square will be required.

Mow the whole square to 5mm or so, to produce a fairly clean top surface.

Scarify thoroughly: this could be from three to 10 passes/occasions.

It is important that if the square is to be aerated, ideally with a punch action solid tine machine to 100-150mm depth, that sufficient irrigation is carried out beforehand to assist in tine penetration.

Sarel spike the square then overseed at 34-50g/m2. Typically a pure 100 per cent perennial rye grass mixture is applied to the whole of the square.

A pre-seed fertiliser containing approx 5-8 per cent of nitrogen can be applied.

CRICKET OUTFIELD

Now is the month to reduce the amount of mowing; also, height of cut should be raised to 25-35mm after the final game.

The onset of winter sports games will mean that an application of fertiliser will help and assist in creating strong growth to help sustain the required usage throughout the winter.

FOOTBALL

The pitches should be in excellent condition by now. A few divots may have been made, and these should be repaired/replaced wherever possible. A light topdressing may be needed in a few places.

Weeds can be a problem. This is the last realistic month for any selective herbicide application, although the grass should be growing well if an application is to be considered.

Thin areas can be seeded and a germination sheet applied to help make the most of the remaining good growing conditions.

RUGBY LEAGUE

Mow at 30mm every day plus a once weekly cut at 25mm to remove annual meadow grass seedheads.

Vertidrain bi-weekly going down

to a maximum depth of 12 inches with 4-inch spacings.

Fertilise – generally using 12+0+9 or a 14+2+4, 12 x 25kg.

Brush every morning – this will help stand the grass up and eliminate morning dew.

Spray – an application of selective weedkiller will be required, plus liquid fertiliser.

Irrigate as often as possible as time constraints and training times allow.

RUGBY UNION

Mow – at 30mm everyday. Plus a once weekly cut at 25mm.

Aerate – Vertidraining bi-weekly going down to a maximum depth of 12 inch with 4-inch spacings to aid drainage and root development.

Fertilise – with a pedestrian cyclone spreader, generally using 12+0+9 or a 20+10+10 if a flush of growth is needed – 12 x 25kg.

Topdress – generally not required but if needed then use mediumgrade sand or a 70/30 rootzone depending on drainage.

Brush – every morning using a tractor-mounted dragbrush, this will help stand the grass up and also remove morning dew.

Irrigate – irrigate as often as possible as time constraints and training times allow.

TENNIS

Commence renovation as soon as possible after the end of the last match.

A typical renovation programme will probably include the following: – irrigation to soften the surface soil profile – initial aeration to penetrate the surface layer – further irrigation to soften the

lower soil profile – further aeration, this time at a greater depth – scarification to remove any thatch build-up and lateral growth – mowing to produce a clean surface – overseeding (especially important along the base line and service boxes) making sure to use the correct type of grass seed – topdress with a suitable loam, with 1-3kg/m2 being suitable depending on the degree of wear and aeration equipment used.

If a fertiliser has not already been applied, now is the time to do so.

HORSE RACECOURSE

This is the main renovation period for flat racing courses.

Where race meetings finish at the end of September, renovation will occur during early October.

Typical renovation work will include: – scarification (or chain harrowing with the tines facing downwards) – deep aeration – mowing grass to a shorter length to expose thin areas –fertiliser application, if not undertaken at the end of August – overseed thin and bare areas – topdress thin and bare areas – light roll – irrigate, particularly seeded and thin areas.

GOLF COURSE

Renovation of the greens will be a priority this month.

Aeration of the fairways can be carried out before the soil becomes too wet.

Traffic areas around greens and tees should be forked, or cultivated if relatively bare, then seeded or turfed.

www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 45

TOOLS & GUIDANCE

REBUILD ROOTS FOR WINTER STRENGTH

TOP TIPS •M inimise turf stress that may trigger Anthracnose atch out for Leaf Spot on •W hot, humid days • M anage turf to rebuild strength se GreenCast to predict •U disease attacks

effects of heavy rainfall and keep surfaces dry, but then hold soil moisture deeper in the profile to encourage greater root mass development. It is also a useful technique for seed establishment in stadia.

Once good growing conditions return, used in conjunction with Primo Maxx II, to concentrate chlorophyll levels in the leaf and enhance summer sun photosynthetic activity, as well as diverting more energy into root production, it gives a real chance to minimise effects of stress on plants and build carbohydrate reserves.

STRESSFUL TIME FOR DISEASE

Relieving summer weather stress on plants is an important Integrated Turf Management tool to minimise risk of Anthracnose outbreaks. However, if stressful, high-

AUGUST 2017 WEATHER FACTS

Managing moisture becomes a challenge under extremes of rainfall weather patterns.

Qualibra wetting-agent effects built up over a summer programme ensure rapid penetration of surface water to minimise the

STADIUM LEAF SPOT

Hot humid days in August can be the precursor for Leaf Spot breaking out, especially in a sheltered sports stadium environment and where cutting height is being reduced ready for the playing season.

Attacks of melting out now will leave little chance for recovery. Medallion TL has proven extremely effective in preventing turf damage to stadium and training ground playing surfaces.

TEMPERATURE & RAIN FOR NOTTINGHAM Rainfall 2017 Rainfall trend 1991-2018 Temperature max 2017 Temperature min 2017 Soil tempertaure 2017

54

24 22

48

20

42

Rainfall mm

• UK rainfall of 103mm was slightly above average overall, but included periods of very heavy rain and localised flooding.

• In Scotland rain fell on 20 days in August last year – five more than normal for the month.

• UK temperature average of 14.5°C was 0.4°C down on recent years, but still above the historical long-term average.

• Sporadic flooding has occurred in eight of the past 10 years.

risk periods occur – particularly around maintenance or high wear-and-tear use – an application of Banner Maxx or Headway can help plants to cope.

Proactive disease planning in the late summer will ensure turf is in the best health going into the autumn and winter.

16

36

18 14

30

12

24

10

18

Temperature °C

T

ake advantage of good growing conditions in August to rebuild rooting ready for winter. Long hours of sunshine can build essential carbohydrate reserves, but plants need to have adequate water and nutrients available.

This season has already seen record temperatures and extreme dry conditions across the country. The effects on plant leaves burning up have been clear to see, but roots are likely to have been equally adversely affected.

Long-term weather models are pointing towards continued above-average temperatures and below-average rainfall right through into the beginning of autumn.

Once again, the pattern is for prolonged dry spells, with any rain coming in short, sharp interludes (Fig 1).

W E AT H E R

8 6

12

4 6

2 0

0 06 Aug 2017

13 Aug 2017

20 Aug 2017

27 Aug 2017

www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 47

GROW WITH THE IOG

LEADERSHIP LEVERAGE

ENHANCED LEARNING FOR ETON COLLEGE First team senior sports groundsman Carl Reeves keeps his knowledge up to date on the changes in sports turf surfaces The IOG Level 4 course improved Carl’s management skills as well as his turf knowledge

By Chris Gray IOG learning programme architect

What was the main reason for studying an IOG Level 4 qualification?

It was the next progression from my NVQ Level 3, which I achieved 10 years ago. I thought the Level 4 sports turf construction and management course with its six modules would really test me and enhance my knowledge and skills, and hopefully take me to the next level as a head groundsman or grounds manager.

Also, the home study option was ideal for fitting into my busy home and work life.

How do you think you can apply learnings from the course to your work situations?

In our industry we have many changes on a daily, monthly and yearly basis – equipment, materials, working practices and daily situations with staff.

Looking back I realise that during the year I completed the six modules I gained new ways of finding answers and put them into practice on a day-to-day basis.

This proved very helpful for the management of staff in situations like our secondary drainage work. In general, I feel this course has taken my role as a first team senior groundsman to another level.

Which subject area most interested you?

I enjoyed all six modules, but the design and construction of a natural turf surface was the most enjoyable as during the course our first team football pitch was having secondary drainage installed (over the original drainage system). The reading and revision I was doing for this module fitted in perfectly

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50 THE GROUNDSMAN August 2018

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and helped my input into what secondary drainage system would be best to give us the optimum playing surface and produce the best results for the busy schedule on the pitch. This also gave me a greater understanding of what the contractors were doing and enabled me to liaise with them on a daily basis.

What do you think the major challenges for the turf industry will be over the next five years?

Changes in sports turf surfaces. You need to keep your skills and knowledge up to date with either day courses or online learning studies, as people who you are supplying the surfaces to (professional teams, colleges, universities, schools) are looking for higher standards on a daily basis. This means knowing your soils, seeds, fertilisers and working practices, as well as having a knowledge of the different surfaces.

Another challenge is sustainability. I think the sports industry needs to grasp this. We need to be more open minded, especially when it comes to the removal of chemicals, and we need to find new ways and ideas to move forward. I think it will take time, but I think we will find ways. We also need to get sustainability values into our yearly routines and involve the schools, clubs or whoever we work for, as well as the general public.

For more information on IOG learning or courses, call 01908 552984 or email learning@iog.org

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