July 24, 2024 - Turf Matters

Calling All Grounds Care Heroes: Nominations and entries are now open for the Grounds Management Association’s (GMA) Industry Awards and, this year, we’re turning up the excitement!

Anfield Stadium, the iconic home of Liverpool FC, will be the new backdrop for this prestigious event on Thursday 13 March 2025.

Calling All Grounds Care Heroes

Breaking new ground, the Industry Awards are making their debut at Anfield Stadium, following previous editions at Headingley Stadium and the NEC alongside Europe’s premier grounds management show, SALTEX.

Since 2009, the GMA Industry Awards have celebrated outstanding achievements in grounds care across professional, amateur, and voluntary sectors, spanning a variety of sports. But this year it’s extra special, as it kicks off the GMA’s annual awareness campaign: #GroundsWeek, running from March 17 to 23, 2025. ISEKI returns as the Industry Awards platinum sponsor for 2025, reaffirming their support for the sector, alongside award category sponsors, DLF Seeds and Syngenta.

Shifting from its traditional November date to March, these awards now support the vital mission of #GroundsWeek, honouring the unsung heroes – the grounds care professionals and volunteers who keep the nation’s playing surfaces pristine!

Categories That Inspire Greatness:

With 17 categories spanning the entire sector, the GMA Industry Awards provide the perfect opportunity to shine a spotlight on the year-round contribution of grounds staff towards maintaining and improving playing surfaces.

Young Groundsperson of the Year – Recognising rising stars

Newcomer of the Year – Welcoming fresh talent

Volunteer Groundsperson/Team of the Year – Honouring those who go above and beyond

Community Groundsperson/Team of the Year – Making a difference in local sports

Best Managed Artificial Surface of the Year – Innovation on display

Environmental and Sustainability Impact Award – Champions of eco-friendly practices (Sponsored by Syngenta)

Bowls & Croquet Groundsperson/Team of the Year – Precision and passion

Professional Cricket Grounds Team of the Year – Pitch-perfect excellence

Professional Tennis Courts Grounds Team of the Year – Serving up aces in turf management

Professional Horse Racing Grounds Team of the Year – Galloping towards excellence

Professional Rugby League Grounds Team of the Year – Tackling pitches head on

Professional Rugby Union Grounds Team of the Year – Scrumming up perfection

Professional Football Grounds Team of the Year – Scoring perfection, the MVPs behind the scenes

Professional Football Grounds Team of the Year (Elite) – Elevating the game, making stadiums roar

University & College Grounds Team of the Year - Cultivating knowledge and green spaces

Independent School Grounds Team of the Year – Nurturing growth in every blade (Sponsored by ISEKI)

GMA Grounds Manager of the Year – Celebrating the very best across the industry (Sponsored by DLF Seeds)

Sarah Hunter, Head of Events at the GMA said:
“The GMA Industry Awards are a fantastic opportunity for individuals and teams to gain the recognition they deserve for their vital work across the grounds care industry. I urge everyone to get involved and submit their nominations – It’s going to be a great event at Anfield Stadium, and we look forward to celebrating the outstanding achievements.”

Are You Ready to nominate or enter?

You can now nominate someone deserving, or enter yourself, by visiting https://gmaindustryawards.uk/. We encourage everyone in the industry to join in and celebrate the outstanding work being done in the grounds care industry.

Important Dates:

Award Nominations Close: Friday 13 September 2024

Final Entries Close: Friday 27 September 2024

For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Emily Herrington by emailing eherrington@thegma.org.uk.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

DSV to Unveil EUROBEAT at GroundsFest: DSV is set to make a significant impact at this year’s GroundsFest, introducing their latest innovation in grass seed, EUROBEAT, on stand 29. The event will take place on September 10 and 11 at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, offering attendees a chance to discover this high-performing addition to DSV’s renowned range of grass seed.

Introducing EUROBEAT

EUROBEAT is a top-tier ryegrass specifically bred for sports applications. Its performance in the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) test series has been outstanding, earning a TOP 10 rank and demonstrating the superior capabilities of DSV’s turfgrass breeding department. EUROBEAT boasts exceptional summer and winter appearance scores, setting it apart as a top performer in traffic tolerance, crucial for sports pitches.

DSV to Unveil EUROBEAT at GroundsFest

Key Benefits of EUROBEAT:

Optimised for Sports Pitches: EUROBEAT’s design caters specifically to the rigorous demands of sports environments.

Superior Wear Resistance: With a 20% improvement over standard ryegrass, EUROBEAT excels in durability.

Year-Round Performance: High aspect scores in both summer and winter ensure a consistently attractive and resilient turf.

Ideal for Overseeding: EUROBEAT’s characteristics make it perfect for enhancing older pitches and supporting autumn sowing for winter appearance boosts.

EUROBEAT’s versatility makes it an excellent choice for renovation mixtures, providing an upgrade in both performance and quality for existing sports fields.

Explore More EuroGrass Mixtures

In addition to EUROBEAT, GroundsFest attendees will have the opportunity to learn about other high-performing EuroGrass mixtures, each tailored for specific sports turf applications.

Featured Mixtures:

EG PRO Rye Fairway: Ideal for golf fairways and roughs, this mixture is designed to handle moderate to high levels of play, ensuring robust and resilient turf.

PRO Summer Sport: Perfect for cricket squares, tennis courts, and golf tees, this mixture offers outstanding recovery and strong shoot density, meeting the demands of extreme hard wear sports.

PRO Pitch: The flagship mix in the EuroGrass portfolio, PRO Pitch is tailored for winter sports pitches, providing exceptional wear tolerance and recovery with top-performing perennial ryegrass cultivars.

PRO Multi Sport: Designed for dual-use facilities and drought tolerance, this mixture ensures excellent sward density, good wear tolerance, and increased drought resilience, making it suitable for sports pitches and academic facilities.

Don’t miss the chance to visit DSV at stand 29 to explore how EUROBEAT and other EuroGrass mixtures can elevate the quality and performance of your sports turf.