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‘Unfairly Dismissed’ KCOM Groundsmen Plea For Support

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‘Unfairly Dismissed’ KCOM Groundsmen Plea For Support: Two KCOM groundsmen who are planning to take their ex-employers to court have called on people to help in their “fight for justice” as they aim to get their jobs back.

Darrell Cook and Mark Harrison were sacked by the Stadium Management Company (SMC) in June for gross misconduct amid claims the pitch had been deteriorating.

However, both of them insist they did nothing to warrant their dismissal and were never given any prior warnings by SMC.

Determined to get reinstated, the pair set up a crowdfunding page and hired Gosschalks Solicitors to fight their case so that they could take their former bosses to an employment tribunal.

Their campaign has so far raised more than £6,000 and has been backed by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who tweeted messages of support to the pair.

However, with their court date looming, the pair have issued a statement urging them to keep on donating so they can reach the sum of £20,000 and hire “the best barrister in the business.”

The pair wrote: “We are now two months away from the hearing and the reality of our situation is beginning to hit home.

“We set a crowdfunding target of £20,000 to enable us to fight for justice and stands up to the people who put us in this awful position and to create a level playing field when we meet them in court – we have so far raised £6,170 of that target.

“Without crowdfunding we have no chance and would simply have to roll over and accept what they’ve done to us.

“We have now got to the point where have seen their defence and all the documents and we are now even more encouraged about our case, as are our legal team.

“All we want is for the Employment Tribunal to restore out reputations by telling the world that we were unfairly dismissed and that we did not deserve what is happening to us.”

Mr Harrison started working for Hull City as an assistant groundsman in 1988 when he was just 16 years old, whereas Mr Cook started his work as a groundsman in 1991 with Hull FC when they were at The Boulevard.

The pair were sacked in April earlier this year by SMC, leaving them devastated.

Mr Cook, who lives in Sproatley, previously said: “This is a job I have done for 27 years and there was no indication anything like this was coming.

“Both myself and Mark have worked for the SMC for 16 years. We have never been in any troubled or had any reprimand so this came out of the blue.”

Determined to drum up more support, the duo ended their lengthy statement, which they published on Twitter at 11:02pm on Thursday, with a plea for as much support as possible in the days and weeks to come.

They wrote: “Please, please, please help us to spread the word and encourage all who can donate to our cause to do so.

“We’ve been unfairly dismissed with immediate effect from our positions as senior groundsmen with 55 years’ combined service with an exemplary records during which we won awards and at time of financial trouble for both clubs we have worked without pay.

“We gave blood, sweat and tears to forge a reputation as one of the most experienced and longest serving stadium ground staff teams in the country.

“We need your help and support to prove that justice can prevail if you are prepared to stand up for what is right.”

SMC have confirmed that their defence was filed on July 28 and, because the claimants have stated via social media that they would provide “regular updates” throughout the process, SMC have therefore given the claimants express permission to publish the document.

A spokesperson for SMC said: “We remain of the view that their claims to be reinstated into their old roles will not success and will continue to robustly defend this matter in the correct way.”

To read the original article from Hull Daily Mail, click here

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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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GKB Sandfillers And Sandspreaders

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GKB Sandfillers and Sandspreaders: The new GKB Sandfiller and SP100 Sandspreader are both from the GKB range of equipment specifically designed for the maintenance and renovation of golf courses and sports pitches.GKB Sandfillers And Sandspreaders

The SP100 has been developed on the back of the success of GKB’s trailed versions and to meet customer needs with easy mounting onto turf trucks, such as the John Deere Gator and Toro Workman. Mounting is straightforward with a simple bolt-on system and stand legs allow the SP100 to be quickly set up or removed. With its 1m3 hopper capacity the machine suits a variety of purposes, evenly distributing materials, such as sand and mulch on sports pitches, with variable spread widths and depths. It’s easily fitted with electro-hydraulic controls and runs directly off the hydraulics of the chosen turf truck.

The GKB Sandfiller is built to tackle the problems of surface drainage and aeration, especially on golf course greens. The Sandfiller simultaneously aerates and fills the topsoil with sand, creating the right conditions for excellent root growth. To allow the machine to properly foll

GKB Sandfillers And Sandspreaders

ow the contours of the ground, three adjustable depth rollers are used while a slitting rotor, situated between conveyor rollers, operates the aerating and slitting actions. Two conveyor rollers are pivoted to distribute weight efficiently and material removed from the top layer by verticutting is immediately collected in a sideways tipping container. The sand flow is controlled hydraulically by means of an adjustable valve situated on the side of the machine.

In areas on the golf course where surface water and moss formation are a problem, the Sandfiller offers a fast solution for drainage and intensive aeration. Aeration of the top layer is economically and environmentally friendly, being cost-effective through the all-in-one combination of aeration and sand filling. Intensive aeration of the grass leads to quicker recovery, greater green longevity and faster drainage of surface water, without the need for complete renovation.

To find out more, visit www.gkbmachines.com or call 07495883617

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