Bedford Town FC Groundsman With Dementia Wins Award

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Bedford Town FC groundsman with dementia wins award: A former sportsman with dementia has been recognised as Groundsman of the Year for the Southern League.Bedford Town FC Groundsman With Dementia Wins Award

Norman Cooley, 76, is a groundsman at Bedford Town Football Club and this will be his third season looking after the grounds.

Mr Cooley was nominated by the football club and attended a ceremony at England’s football training ground at St George’s Park.

Alan, his eldest son, said: “Looking after the grounds has been a family effort. Dad was diagnosed with dementia three or four years ago so we took the job on to keep him active.”

Mr Cooley, his younger son Peter, and Alan head down to the football grounds once a week. Alan said: “Winning the award, it felt fantastic. It has been a long journey with my dad’s disease and this was the perfect thing for him. He is very comfortable being in that environment, surrounded by football people and on the pitch, and the award was the icing on the cake. It was a proud family moment.”

Mr Cooley played for the Bedford Town 738 times between 1961-77 and later became a groundsman for Bedford School where he spent most of his later life.

Alan said: “It’s great for him to go back to the place where he started as a young man playing football. Football was his entire life. He worked as a draftsman and they used to let him out of work early just because he played for the club. By keeping him active we hope that his decline will be slower.”

Mr Cooley’s wife, Maureen, looks after him on a daily basis but Alan is glad to help her out and give her a break by taking him to the football grounds. “Because of his love for both football and cricket, when he was younger he was referred to as the Denis Compton of Bedford.”

To read the original article from Bedford Today, click here

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Jacobsen and E-Z-GO Take Over Ibiza

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Jacobsen and E-Z-GO Take Over Ibiza: Golf Ibiza by azuLinehotels, the only golf course on the Spanish island of Ibiza has taken delivery of a fleet of Jacobsen equipment and E-Z-GO golf cars with Textron Fleet Management GPS (TFM GPS); the first to be sold in Spain. Local Jacobsen and E-Z-GO dealer, Greenmowers, made the delivery.Jacobsen and E-Z-GO Take Over Ibiza

The equipment delivered at the beginning of the season included three GP400 riding greens mowers, one AR522 rough mower, one Fairway 305 mower, one Jacobsen Truckster XD, one Smithco roller, and 20 E-Z-GO RXV golf cars with TFM GPS.

Managing Director Sr. Cachón decided to purchase equipment from Jacobsen and E-Z-GO after owning an old E-Z-GO RXV for more than 15 years himself. The new equipment is replacing the old models on the golf course, as the club looks to further enhance the quality of the course and the golfer’s overall experience.

“We are very happy with the new equipment,” Sr. Cachón said. “E-Z-GO and Jacobsen are very reliable suppliers, and we have always been able to count on Greenmowers for superb service. I play a lot of golf myself, and whenever I have rented an E-Z-GO golf car in the past, I have always been very happy; they have never let me down.”

The 20 E-Z-GO RXV golf cars with TFM GPS are the first to be sold to a golf course in Spain, and Sr. Cachón and Golf Director Juan Lebrón are enthused about the new possibilities available to players on the course. Lebrón explained the benefits of the new technology:

“The TFM GPS on the golf cars will revolutionise the golfing experience for our customers. They will be able to see the layout and yardage of each hole, record scores, and order food and beverage when required out on the golf course.

“From our point of view, we are able to geofence areas to keep vehicles in specified boundaries, which will protect both the course, and the players. It is an exciting prospect for us, and the combination of the quality of cut on the Jacobsen machines and the technology on the E-Z-GO golf cars will help us to attain higher standards, attracting more golfers to Ibiza.”

Export Regional Sales Manager for Jacobsen Goncalo Carneiro commented on the delivery of the machines. He said,

“We are delighted that Golf Ibiza by azuLinehotels have taken delivery of the very first E-Z-GO golf cars with TFM GPS in Spain. A special thanks must go to Antonio Marcer and the staff at Greenmowers for providing fantastic service and support once again. I am confident that the Jacobsen machines will provide the course with superior surfaces, and the attraction of the innovative golf cars helps the club to become one of the big names in Spanish golf.”

For more information, visit: www.jacobsen.com/europe

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ICL Announce New Technical Area Sales Manager

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ICL Announce New Technical Area Sales Manager: ICL has announced the appointment of Matt Nutter as the new Technical Area Sales Manager operating in South East England, including Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and North London. ICL Announce New Technical Area Sales Manager

Matt joins the company with a wealth of experience in the turf industry. Having initially completed an ND in Turf Science and Sports Ground Management at Myerscough College, Matt enrolled on the Ohio State Program which provided him with an opportunity to work at the Pelican Marsh Golf Club in Naples, Florida.

Upon his return to the UK, Matt landed a position as Greenkeeper at the Wisley Golf Club before progressing through the ranks to Deputy Head Greenkeeper and Spray Technician. With a significant amount of experience in a Deputy Head Greenkeeper position, he embarked on a new challenge in the same role at East Berkshire Golf Club before eventually being promoted to Course Manager.

Matt, who lives with his partner Juliet and their two daughters Ezra and Shiloh, is relishing the new opportunity with ICL.

“I am excited to be joining such a high profile company and market leader in ICL and happy to still be involved in the industry I love. I look forward to meeting new customers and relish the opportunities that this role offers.” he said.

Please contact ICL on 01473 237100 or visit www.icl-sf.co.uk or www.icl-sf.ie if you are in Ireland.

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