Former Groundsman Praises Playability of SISGrass
Former Hull City groundsman Craig Backhouse believes more football clubs should join the SISGrass revolution.
Backhouse, who now works as an Installation Supervisor at SIS Pitches, worked at Hull City for nine years, two of which he spent working with a SISGrass pitch installed by SIS Pitches.
He now travels the world to help install the product in his new role, and has carried out work in the Middle East, Germany, Greece, Turkey as well as a number of projects in the UK.
Having worked on a quick-fire SISGrass installation at Derby County’s iPro Stadium and witnessed AFC Bournemouth becoming the first Premier League club to have a new SISGrass hybrid pitch installed, Backhouse believes more football clubs should follow suit.
“The playability of SISGrass pitches is fantastic, the quality can make a groundsmans’ life so much easier and obviously I have worked on both sides,” said Backhouse.
“It is very important that our team are made up of groundsmen who understand both the grass and also what football clubs want.
“The feedback that we have had from players and clubs across the UK and also abroad has been incredible. It is an important part of the job to ensure that players enjoy playing on the surface.
“Of course, the pitch has to be maintained but my advice to football clubs would be to have SISGrass installed, it is one of the best playing surfaces in the world.
“The yarn and polypropylene fibres that we use stand up in the grass and as a result the ball moves faster across the surface. This means that the chances of playing more free-flowing football are increased greatly.”
Having spent a number of years working for a football club, Backhouse has only been at SIS Pitches for a little over six months. However, he has already seen a rapid rise in the company.
SIS Pitches have landed a number of prestigious projects across the country but have also confirmed deals to design, construct and maintain four pitches for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, including the Luzhniki Stadium, which will host the final.
“SIS Pitches and in particular SISGrass will continue to grow from strength to strength, it is incredible what has been achieved in the last six months alone.
“There is so much variety to the work we do and to be able to travel around building pitches and dealing with different groundsmen every day is fantastic.
“The team we have is excellent, everyone has a great spirit about them but also a determination to ensure that our clients receive the best possible service.”
