GaNTIP advisors helped Hereford FC improve its pitch
NEW GROWTH An expanding team means the Grounds and Natural Turf Improvement Programme can keep growing
By Colin Hoskins Features editor
A
s the Grounds and Natural Turf Improvement Programme (GaNTIP) continues to benefit grassroots sports clubs throughout the country, it has recently expanded to meet user needs with two new regional pitch advisors – Simon Johnson and Phil Jeggo – as well as the promotion of Ian Mather-Brewster and Tom Rowley to key account managers, with their particular focuses on cricket and football, respectively.
NEW KEY ACCOUNT MANAGERS IAN MATHERBREWSTER
Before becoming a regional pitch advisor with the GaNTIP programme upon its launch in April 2014, Ian was formerly IOG regional pitch advisor (since 2008) for the North of England, a 16 THE GROUNDSMAN November 2017
role that saw him working closely with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) regional facilities and investment manager – to improve and support Groundsman’s Associations across six counties. He was also an ECB county pitch advisor for the Lancashire Cricket Board and an IOG instructor. His role included developing and delivering the IOG’s training and education programme, which included many training courses at all levels, including County Football Associations and the Rugby Football League, and assessing workbased diplomas. Ian has also delivered training and education to more than 200 school students. Ian’s record as an RPA includes: supporting the Cumberland FA and the ECB during the 2014/15 floods, visiting and advising on 15 sites in a two-week period; working with seven County FAs in delivering the Pitch Improvement Programme and providing workshops and
support; working with three ECB cricket boards supporting the Groundsman’s Associations and the county pitch advisors; supporting new development projects at Burscough JFC, Chadderton FC and Ambleside JFC; assessing four Park Life sites; and working with four local authorities on improvements to playing fields.
TOM ROWLEY
After spending six years working for Leicestershire gardening businesses, which involved all aspects of garden maintenance and hard and soft landscaping, Tom joined Leicester City FC in 2008 as an assistant groundsman. During his time at Leicester City FC, Tom was involved in maintaining the reinforced and natural turf pitches at both the training ground and stadium, including match days.