IOG BEST PRACTICE
Keith Boyce (left) is presented with a memento for his 60-year career by the IOG’s Jason Booth
BEST PRACTICE
A ‘RAKE AND ROLL’ STAR The IOG looks back on and honours the career of Keith Boyce, a true groundsmanship guru who has put his roller and moisture meter away for good after 60 years
K By Colin Hoskins Features editor
eith Boyce is currently enjoying a tenancy-for-life residence in a bungalow provided by the directors of New Rover Cricket Club as a thank you for his transformation of the Leeds ground. He changed it from a run-of-the-mill village pitch to a county-standard playing surface, and the bungalow goes to show the high level of esteem in which the man is held. In fact, some of the UK’s top professionals readily acknowledge Keith, not only as a pioneer in cricket groundsmanship, but also as their mentor – the one person who encouraged them to progress in the industry. And he’s received official recognition too – the presentation of a memento ‘For a lifetime of inspiration to many’ and the 2010 IOG Lifetime Achievement Award. “I don’t feel as though I’ve done anything special to deserve such an award – all I’ve done is enjoy myself,” was his comment on receiving the accolades.
16 THE GROUNDSMAN January 2019
IN THE BEGINNING
Keith’s introduction to the industry began after National Service, when he started playing for the local (Castleton) village cricket team. “I was at that time working in an ICI chemical plant and, like the village policeman, vicar and butcher, I looked forward to the weekly game. It was a very enjoyable time and, like most village teams then (and now), we all mucked in to get things done – and that included me ‘fiddling around’ with the wicket. I prepared my first ever wicket in 1958. “The more I got involved in pitch preparation, the more I liked it, and even though we were using a heavy roller on a pitch spotted with sheep droppings, we improved it and soon gained a name for being able to present a great batting wicket. I soon realised that plenty of rake and roll would create a good wicket and I took a chance and did an early season roll. It paid off.” Keith’s next encounter with groundsmanship came after a move to Guisborough in the early 1960s, where