Duncan Ross Ltd Reinvigorates Penrith Football Club

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Duncan Ross Ltd reinvigorates Penrith Football Club with six-week pitch re-development: Penrith Football Club’s Frenchfield Park Stadium had been virtually unplayable for nine years, until recent pitch redevelopment work by Duncan Ross Ltd gave the club and their pitch a new lease of life.

The surface had been without considered maintenance before and during the current nine-year inhabitancy of Penrith FC, and without a functioning drainage system the top layer of the surface became impenetrable.

Duncan Ross were only given a six-week window to complete the operation in time for a lucrative pre-season friendly against League Two outfit Carlisle United. Within the three days of work, the top was completely stripped off using a Koro® FIELDTOP MAKER®, sand banding was introduced and the pitch was seeded.

Duncan Ross Ltd Reinvigorates Penrith Football Club

Brian ‘Billy’ Williams has had a 50-year association with the club, first as a player, owner and chairman – the role he currently holds. The importance of the pitch being prepared for the match was massive for the club, and Brian explains the before and after effects the project has had.

“The pitch wasn’t draining at all, we had drains that had been dry for the last eight-years and Duncan came down and gave us a thesis on what he thought was wrong,” Brian explained. “He presented a solution to what he thought would solve the problems and our local council along with the Football Stadium Improvement Fund got involved and funded the project.

“It’s been a pleasure for people to come along to the ground and ask what’s been going on and I tell we met a man called Duncan Ross. I’ve been in business myself for the last 50-years and I don’t think I’ve ever met a more conscientious people regarding the quality of their work.

“We played our first pre-season game against Carlisle United on 12th July, and that really put them to the test because the decision wasn’t made to bring Duncan in until the early part of May, so there was a five to six-week window to actually start doing the work, which was quite considerable.

“The game against Carlisle meant a lot to us financially for the start of the current season, so it was great that it was ready for the game. Carlisle were absolutely thrilled with the condition of it and we’ve had nothing but positive feedback.”

As Frenchfield is owned by Eden Council and leased by the club, Doug Huggon, leisure and community service manager at the council, was involved in the process. Their involvement along with the help of the Cumberland Football Association meant half the cost of reconstructing the pitch was paid for.

“Duncan Ross can only be commended in their approach to offering a solution to the drainage issue, successfully bidding for the work, undertaking the work on time and to budget,” Doug said.

“Also, for the support and assistance that has been offered to the club since the work was carried out, advising on irrigation, grass cutting and on-going maintenance.

“The council as well as the club has been impressed with the performance of Duncan Ross and hope to develop a relationship going forward that will ensure that the day to day maintenance of the pitch, undertaken by volunteers at the club as well as the annual reinstatement of the pitch allows for less matches being postponed and use of the pitch by other teams within the club.”

Allowing other teams within the club to use the pitch is a very important point for Brian, who now aims to bond the clubs 300 junior kids and four ladies’ teams together by allowing all of them to play on the stadium pitch.

This would not only have a positive effect on the players but the club’s finances at the same time. There is also a probable knock-on effect of being able to use the surface to attract new players to the club.

with six-week pitch re-development.

Penrith Football Club’s Frenchfield Park Stadium had been virtually unplayable for nine years, until recent pitch redevelopment work by Duncan Ross Ltd gave the club and their pitch a new lease of life.

The surface had been without considered maintenance before and during the current nine-year inhabitancy of Penrith FC, and without a functioning drainage system the top layer of the surface became impenetrable.

Duncan Ross were only given a six-week window to complete the operation in time for a lucrative pre-season friendly against League Two outfit Carlisle United. Within the three days of work, the top was completely stripped off using a Koro® FIELDTOP MAKER®, sand banding was introduced and the pitch was seeded.

Brian ‘Billy’ Williams has had a 50-year association with the club, first as a player, owner and chairman – the role he currently holds. The importance of the pitch being prepared for the match was massive for the club, and Brian explains the before and after effects the project has had.

“The pitch wasn’t draining at all, we had drains that had been dry for the last eight-years and Duncan came down and gave us a thesis on what he thought was wrong,” Brian explained. “He presented a solution to what he thought would solve the problems and our local council along with the Football Stadium Improvement Fund got involved and funded the project.

“It’s been a pleasure for people to come along to the ground and ask what’s been going on and I tell we met a man called Duncan Ross. I’ve been in business myself for the last 50-years and I don’t think I’ve ever met a more conscientious people regarding the quality of their work.

“We played our first pre-season game against Carlisle United on 12th July, and that really put them to the test because the decision wasn’t made to bring Duncan in until the early part of May, so there was a five to six-week window to actually start doing the work, which was quite considerable.

“The game against Carlisle meant a lot to us financially for the start of the current season, so it was great that it was ready for the game. Carlisle were absolutely thrilled with the condition of it and we’ve had nothing but positive feedback.”

As Frenchfield is owned by Eden Council and leased by the club, Doug Huggon, leisure and community service manager at the council, was involved in the process. Their involvement along with the help of the Cumberland Football Association meant half the cost of reconstructing the pitch was paid for.

“Duncan Ross can only be commended in their approach to offering a solution to the drainage issue, successfully bidding for the work, undertaking the work on time and to budget,” Doug said.

“Also, for the support and assistance that has been offered to the club since the work was carried out, advising on irrigation, grass cutting and on-going maintenance.

“The council as well as the club has been impressed with the performance of Duncan Ross and hope to develop a relationship going forward that will ensure that the day to day maintenance of the pitch, undertaken by volunteers at the club as well as the annual reinstatement of the pitch allows for less matches being postponed and use of the pitch by other teams within the club.”

Allowing other teams within the club to use the pitch is a very important point for Brian, who now aims to bond the clubs 300 junior kids and four ladies’ teams together by allowing all of them to play on the stadium pitch.

This would not only have a positive effect on the players but the club’s finances at the same time. There is also a probable knock-on effect of being able to use the surface to attract new players to the club.

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SMC Boss Questioned At KCOM Groundsmen Tribunal

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SMC Boss Questioned At KCOM Groundsmen Tribunal: The company running the KCOM Stadium has admitted unfairly sacking two long-serving groundsmen following a dramatic day at an employment tribunal.

Mark Harrison and his number two, Darrell Cook, were dismissed from their roles managing the pitch at Hull City’s ground in April – a job they had held since 2002.

SMC said at the time they had been fired for gross misconduct amid claims the pitch had been deteriorating.

SMC Boss Questioned At KCOM Groundsmen Tribunal

An employment tribunal in Hull was told on Thursday the SuperStadium Management Company (SMC) conceded the pair were unfairly dismissed earlier.

But the SMC is arguing it should not pay compensation to the two men and contend their actions still warranted dismissal.

Giving evidence, Mr Allam said he had relied on security system data and CCTV footage in deciding to refuse Mr Cook’s initial appeal against dismissal.

He said Mr Cook’s tracked movements around the stadium suggested had been working as a kit man for Hull FC during his normal working hours for the SMC.

Barrister Nicholas Siddal, who is representing the men after an online crowd-funding campaign, said: “You are relying on an inference that Mr Cook was doing something wrong?”

Mr Allam replied: “I am relying on my logical assumptions.”

Mr Allam said he believed Mr Cook was moonlighting with Mr Harrison’s approval.

“There was no purpose for him being where he was in the stadium. He wasn’t there doing something for me, therefore he must have been doing something for someone else.”

The tribunal heard both Mr Harrison and Mr Cook had no previous history of any disciplinary issues involving their work at the stadium. In evidence, Mr Harrison said he knew nothing about what Mr Cook did in his lieu time.

They were both sacked without being given any initial verbal or written warnings about their conduct.

Mr Siddall said neither man had been given any written reason for their dismissals in the formal decision letters from the SMC.

Mr Allam, who oversaw the internal appeal process which rejected their stance, acknowledged he had initially instigated the disciplinary investigation into the two men following concerns about the state of the pitch at the stadium.

Mr Siddal told the tribunal that letters sent to the two men by the SMC informing them of their appeal hearings stated they would be chaired by Mr Allam because he was “independent of the process with no previous knowledge” of the issues.

Mr Siddal said: “This was simply not true.”

The hearing will continue on Friday.

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New Holland At SALTEX 2017

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New Holland to showcase mini crawler excavators at this year’s Saltex event: New Holland will showcase its E18C ROPS mini excavator, from the company’s agricultural construction range, at this year’s Saltex event on 1st and 2nd November. 

The New Holland agricultural construction range includes mini crawler excavators, backhoe loaders, wheel loaders and skid steer loaders. These multi-purpose machines are ideal for busy landscaping and amenity contractors, and are available with a variety of purpose-made attachments. New Holland dealers can also supply further accessories for specialist operations.

New Holland At SALTEX 2017

The mini crawler excavator range features seven models with engine power ranging from 16.8 to 64.7hp and lift capacity between 1.7 to 6 tonnes, Compact dimensions are matched with high performance to maintain power and versatility when working in difficult-to-access areas.

Constant hydraulic flow means New Holland’s mini crawler excavators can power a variety of demanding attachments including soil augers, flail mowers for hedges and verges, as well as cutterbars and saws. The boom and dipper offers power arm versatility with the ability to work hydraulic shears, breakers and stump grinders.

The hydraulic quick coupler allows hands-free attaching and release of buckets, and safer switching between large, heavy attachments. Mechanical quick lock attachment brackets are also available.

The optional Object Handling Kit enables all models of mini crawler excavators to raise heavy suspended loads using a lifting hook on the bucket linkage, reducing the need to bring in additional equipment and complying with health and safety guidelines.

Powerful traction matched to a low centre of gravity provides excellent stability across difficult terrain.  The dozer blade, with its unique concave design allows earth to fall forward as it is pushed and features excellent geometry for levelling and grading. When excavating, the blade can be lowered for stability.

Designed around the operator, the cab’s slim frame pillars ensure excellent all-round visibility, with a good view of the boom and dipper. The E18C is available with a choice of canopy or cab, and all variants within the mini crawler excavator range are ROPS roll-over, TOPS tip-over and FOPS falling-object compliant to ISO standards. All models operate at low noise and vibration levels, allowing for extended work periods with no compromise to operator safety.

Visitors to Saltex can find out more about the agricultural construction range of machines, including the full mini crawler range, on New Holland’s stand (K189). The range is available through selected New Holland dealers across the UK and Ireland.

Whatever The Customer Wants

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Whatever the Customer Wants: That legendary American industrialist, Henry Ford, who brought automotive transportation to the masses, was famous for many things, among them one of the best known quotes of the 20th century.

The Model T Ford was the car which gave the American public the ability to travel and Henry’s quote was: “A customer can have a car painted any colour that he wants so long as it is black.”

Whatever The Customer Wants

A Dutch industrialist from the 21st century, Leo van Loen, Managing Director Trilo, also has a quote: “A customer can have anything he wants.”

As simple as that.

Leo has introduced a new production strategy at the small but progressive, Trilo plant which has revolutionised the way in which the company operates which now offers a mind-numbing number of opportunities to its customers.

A customer can, indeed, have anything her or she wishes and, while choice can sometimes bring a myriad of headaches, in this instance it couldn’t be simpler.

The on-line configurator enables customers to go on line and create the exact machine they need, following a path through the options and preventing anything emerging from the end process which is not workable, or the most cost effective way in which to fulfil the task required.

With support, if required, from, in the UK, Support Managers Jon Proffit and Jeremy Vincent, the process could not be more simple.

“Ah”, I hear from those more used to the workings of the manufacturing sector, “but how long will you have to wait for your bespoke piece of equipment?”

Well, that’s the great thing. A computerised tracking system means that every phone call, from the initial tentative enquiry, through to “Yup, we’ve had a meeting and decided to order.” Is tracked and a percentage of the chances of the order coming through given from 10% through to 90% – there can always be a slip between cup and lip! – so preparations can be made for that order’s completion in the shortest possible time.

A one million euro restructuring of the plant is currently underway, and due to be completed by March. This will bring added benefits to and see increases in efficiency and bring the available working man hours up from 50,000 per annum to 60,000 per annum thus reducing lead times, for a new, built-to-spec machine, to just three weeks.

It has meant that Trilo no longer need to hold huge amounts of stock as, because every order or potential order, is on the system, they only hold, or produce, what they need to meet those orders.

Whatever The Customer Wants

This has also been made possible by the radical, and some may have said risky, decision made by Commercial Director, Peter van Mispelaar, to require payment in advance for the machines.

The rationale being that the machine has been built to a specification which is fit for a particular customer and unlikely to be perfect for another customer and therefore not as saleable. That new approach has been embraced by customers and meant that Trilo now doesn’t suffer from the cash flow issues which can impact upon so many business as they await payment to cover costs already incurred.

To the machines themselves. Well, they’re pretty good too. Trilo specialises in vacuum brushes and blowers which are just as at home in the urban roads and pavements of the city as the wide open and wooded parks and golf course.

The company was launched by Leo’s father and two uncles – hence Tri Lo – and Leo grew up working in the, at the time much smaller plant. With his future apparently mapped out he went to university to learn the business skills which would complement the engineering  capabilities provided by the rest of the family, including his own brother.

Just as he emerged from university armed with the skills to take Trilo to the next level the company was sold and rather than carry on as one of the family dynasty Leo continued to work for Trilo under the new ownership.

Ultimately Leo took the heart-breaking decision to leave the company which had been a part of his life for such a long time.

“When I closed the door behind me for the very last time I thought that was it. I would never be back,” explained Leo, as he hosted a group of UK-based trade press, recently.

However, some of the reasons that Leo felt uncomfortable working under the new management came to a head and Trilo went bust.

It was at that point that Leo and Peter put together a business proposition which saw them return to Trilo as the new owners and since then the company has not looked back.

Leo’s business acumen, coupled with his intense devotion to a company which is literally in his blood, it is making huge strides and its innovative manufacturing and sophisticated on-line systems are pointing to a very bright future for the company.

So while Leo may still be in Henry Ford’s shadow when it comes to coming up with memorable quotes, he is well ahead of the great man when it comes to giving the customer what he or she wants.

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