Jurgen Klopp Bemoans Pitch After Third Home Game Without Win

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Jurgen Klopp bemoans Anfield’s pitch after third successive home game without a win. Liverpool made it three home games in a row without a win, held to a 0-0 draw by Southampton for the second time this season.

Jurgen Klopp admitted post-match his frustration at the result, but insisted it was a point gained in the race for the top four – a race which still remains in the Reds’ hands thanks to Arsenal beating Man United.

Liverpool’s home form though, failing to beat Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Southampton in consecutive games at Anfield, is a major concern for supporters.

Klopp also highlighted how dry the Anfield pitch was – a pitch that was due to replaced two years ago but has had to wait due to the ongoing construction of the new Main Stand.

“Today the pitch was really dry. We gave all the water we had and after 15 minutes it was really dry. It was difficult and with a lot of passes you could say, ‘Why are they playing this?’.

“In a home game you have to have the best circumstances but we couldn’t have this.”

Liverpool, despite their poor form since January, are still two wins away from qualifying for the Champions League – away to West Ham and at home to Middlesbrough.

Meanwhile, Anfield’s pitch will be replaced this summer. In the last two years it was only re-seeded due to the access required by cranes while the new Main Stand was built.

Brendan Rodgers frequently bemoaned the pitch in 2014/15, once describing it as “awful” and saying: “It is an old pitch that has not been upgraded for some years and it can be a disadvantage for us. It is difficult to play one-touch football on it.”

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Greenkeeper Takes Up Role As ECB Pitch Adviser

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Falmouth Greenkeeper Takes Up Role As ECB Pitch Adviser. Cornwall Cricket is delighted to announce the appointment of Simon Johnson, Head Greenkeeper at Falmouth Golf Club, and Head Groundsman at Mount Ambrose CC as its new named ECB Pitch Adviser.

Greenkeeper Takes Up Role As ECB Pitch Adviser

Simon has more than thirty years’ relevant experience and has prepared pitches for Minor Counties’ games while at Camborne CC.

Kevin O’Kelly, who has been the ECB Pitch Adviser for the last five years, has agreed to stay on in an active role and assist Simon in his new position.

Simon Menneer, Cornwall Cricket CEO, said: “This is an excellent outcome for Cornish cricket. We have gained the services for the long-term of an outstanding and respected expert in his field, and retained the valuable services of our outgoing Pitch Adviser which will ensure continuity.”

The ECB Pitch Advisory Scheme is funded by Sport England and ECB, and represents the first governing body to address the issue of groundsmanship, in particular at recreational / non-professional level.

The project is to place 45 County Pitch Advisers across England and Wales and for their activities to be fully embraced into the work of County Cricket Boards.

Roles of a Pitch Adviser:

1. To advise on the quality performance of specific pitches / squares and produce recommendations (where necessary) for any improvements, which may include grant aid schemes (Prioritised Detailed Assessment).

2. To monitor the developments of any facilities on which recommendations are being implemented.

3. Available, if required, to assess pitches / squares in respect of various league criteria.

4. Create a response team for basic assessments.

5. Help build an effective Groundmanship Association.’

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Council Tax Bombshell

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Ban on common weed killer could create £228 million council tax bombshell

Council Tax Bombshell

Research made available to the Forum has concluded that:

  • A local authority ban on common weed killers used in the professional amenity and garden sectors which contain glyphosate would add £228 million to council tax bills each year
  • This has been calculated as a cost equivalent to current funding for 11,438 adult social care workers
  • The ban could force some UK councils to spend considerable sums in capital outlays to replace conventional spraying systems with alternative approaches

New economic figures unveiled today reveal the cost to the local taxpayer of banning common weed killers to keep pavements, parks and public places weed free.

The figures come at a time when no less than 30 local authorities are being lobbied by some in their communities to ban the same weed killers that are used in amenity areas and gardens throughout the UK.

The research shows that a ban on weed killers containing glyphosate would add £228 million to the UK’s council tax bill each year.

The additional tax requirements for funding the alternatives would require an increase in the average household council tax bill of £7.80 – half the band D rate increase in 2015/16.

Amenity Forum Chairman, Professor John Moverley OBE, commented:

Weed killers are used by local authorities for management of public spaces, including pavements, parks, schools and local authority play areas. The non-chemical alternatives to treating roads and pavements for weeds have a place in an integrated approach to weed management but, as extensive research has shown, cannot currently compete with weed killers in normal day to day operations on economic or effectiveness grounds.

“At a time when Local Authorities are faced with acute budget pressures, it is important that decisions are based upon science and evidence. Nobody working in the professional amenity sector would wish to do anything to endanger public health and safety and always makes use of all options available. Anyweed killer coming to market undertakes rigorous testing before it is released and during its use.

Weed killers used in the amenity sector have been proven time and time again to be safe – no less than 28 independent global regulators and thousands of scientific studies over 40 years back this up. They are used across the diverse and important amenity sector as part of an integrated approach, keeping our railways running, maintaining our world class sports surfaces, for woodlands and much more. This research has just highlighted the costs of keeping pavements weed free. The total amenity cost would be substantially more.

As the voluntary initiative for the sector, we seek to provide an independent voice promoting best practice in all aspects of weed and pest management. We recognize concerns can arise but, in dealing with them, we need a rational debate based upon science and facts. The management of weeds and pests in amenity impacts upon every UK citizen’’

Southend United Groundsman Ken Hare Reaches Settlement With Club

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Southend United Groundsman Ken Hare Reaches Settlement With Club. Prospect (the union that represents football officials, cricket umpires, grounds staff and other sports professionals) has reached a mutually acceptable agreement for Southend United’s groundsman, Ken Hare, whose employment was terminated in January.

Hare was dismissed on 21 January after Southend’s home match against Bolton was postponed because the pitch was frozen.

Hare contacted his professional body, the Institute of Groundsmanship who provided support and advice, and his trade union Prospect.

Prospect national secretary, Alan Leighton, represented Hare in the negotiations with Southend chairman, Ron Martin.

Leighton said: “The negotiations were tough, but conducted in a good and fair spirit with each side acknowledging the other’s position in order to reach a mutually satisfactory agreement.

“The nature of the negotiations was typified by the kind offer of two season tickets for Ken as part of the arrangement. Ken gratefully accepted the offer and hopes to see Southend promoted in 2017/18.”

The terms of the agreement are confidential, but Hare said: “I am delighted with the outcome and would like to express my thanks to Prospect, the IOG and the Chairman, Ron Martin, for helping reach a mutually satisfactory agreement.

“Without the support of my union, I would have had difficulty resolving this without incurring the cost and stress of it potentially being determined at an employment tribunal. I would encourage all my grounds staff colleagues to join Prospect and the IOG.”

Leighton added: “This was a hugely important issue for Ken and for grounds staff more generally. Employees in football clubs need the support of an independent friend in the workplace because problems can arise at any time.

“Prospect was able to provide crucial professional advice and representation.”

Leighton paid tribute to Ron Martin for being pro-active and prepared to compromise and reach a mutually satisfactory agreement.

Tim Gray for the IOG said: “Ken’s case was a classic example of why the partnership between IOG and Prospect is so important. It shows why grounds staff should be members of both the IOG – for professional advice and development – and of Prospect, for employment advice and representation.”

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Volunteer Groundsman ‘Sacked’ While Still On The Pitch

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Volunteer Groundsman ‘Sacked’ While Still On The Pitch. A groundsman who has dedicated half of his life to volunteering for Hull City has been left devastated after being unexpectedly ‘sacked’ while on the pitch.

David, 31, started volunteering at Boothferry Park when he was just 15 by offering to tidy up the pitch after every Hull City home game alongside his father and older brothers.

When Hull City moved to the KCOM Stadium in 2002, the family followed, and in the years to come they went on to sort the pitch after midweek and England under-21 matches in

exchange for complimentary match tickets to Tigers games.

However, after starting their work following Saturday’s defeat to Sunderland, the group were unexpectedly ushered away from the stadium and told that they would no longer be needed.

David said: “We were only about 20 minutes in to doing our job when one of the stewards approached us while in communication with the security office above the North Stand.

“We were questioned where we received our match day tickets from and who authorised it.

“We told him that we always used to receive our tickets from the full-time ground staff when we finished doing our job or they would be left at the reception for us to collect before the next game.

“The steward then informed us that his superior told him to inform us that we should stop what we were doing and leave.

“We were utterly shocked. The steward himself has been at the club for as long as we have been doing the pitch and I think he found it very difficult to tell us this news.”

As they headed towards the exit, David was left feeling dejected after what he labelled ‘the end of an era.’

“We’re all very shocked and bitterly disappointed,” he said. “I have been privileged to be a small part of the club for over half of my life and I think this is why I feel so disappointed in losing our role and especially in the manner that we were told.

“We were all loyal supporters before we gained the position on the pitch, so to be able to enter the sacred playing surface of Boothferry Park, an award-winning pitch I recall, was absolutely amazing and it felt so special.

“When we moved to the KC Stadium that too was an awe-inspiring situation. To walk out on to the pitch of a brand new, state of the art stadium was a pure privilege and it was an honour to be trusted to maintain the high standards required by the full time groundsmen.

“I feel very disappointed by the decision to sack us and given no notice too, it feels as though the years count for nothing.

“We know it was always a privileged position to be able to do the role, and for so long, but it doesn’t mean it’s not upsetting to suddenly have it taken away from you.”

The Superstadium Management Company (SMC) has been contacted for a comment.

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