Groundsman of the Year praises Headland

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Groundsman of the Year praises Headland: With 12 years of greenkeeping experience under his belt, Carel Fourie has been turning his hand to the maintenance at Holwell Sports FC.

And he’s made quite the impression, scooping the United Counties League Groundsman of the Year title for 2019/20. Assisting Carel with the transition from fine turf to sports turf has been Alex Hawkes of Headland Amenity, who has overseen the construction of a nutritional programme that has boosted the health, appearance and playability of the Welby Road pitch.

Groundsman of the Year praises Headland

Groundsman of the Year praises Headland

“What started out as an advisory role, and carrying out the occasional spot treatments, turned into me being appointed as the club’s first permanent groundsman three years ago” explains Carel. “While I have done a lot of spraying and built up knowledge on a range of Headland products for golf, getting to know what would work for football was a real learning curve.” Following soil sampling and analysis by Alex, a programme was introduced based around Multigreen® temperature-controlled release fertiliser.

With field longevity of five to six months, Carel applies Multigreen® 28-3-15 in early summer and follows this up with an application of the 15-0-22 formulation in September. “Despite our heavy clay profile, Multigreen® gives us a long-lasting source of Nitrogen, that can be supplemented with other products for targeted treatments.” While Carel uses a range of Headland products in his nutritional programme, worth particular note are a tank mix of Elevate Fe®, Xtend® and Clipless NT® which is applied every six weeks through the summer to boost the visual qualities, together with a combination of Turfcomplex® and TriCure AD™ which has proven to successfully nurse the pitch through periods of dry weather and drought.

“I utilised the time during lockdown to conduct some heavy renovation work which included hollow coring and overseeding, which germinated really well largely thanks to nutrients sustained in the soil from the previous application of Multigreen®, alongside a treatment of H-Cote™ Mini which I put down in early March.” The lockdown also didn’t stop the invaluable technical support from Headland. “I was sent a kit to take my own soil samples which Headland then analysed to make sure everything was still on track. There were a couple of times where WhatsApp came in handy too, with Alex able to identify some issues we were having with Brown Patch via video call when he wasn’t able to visit the site.”

With golf and football firmly on his CV, Carel is also now undertaking some work at Melton Mowbray Cricket Club. “Each surface brings its own unique challenges, not to mention the added complications that COVID has presented, but we’re nothing if not versatile, and with enthusiasm and the right advice I relish those challenges!”

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Ground renamed in honour of groundsman

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Ground renamed in honour of groundsman: Southern Counties East side Punjab United have renamed their ground in memory of their former groundsman

Steve Cook died last month and since the announcement the club was inundated with messages of condolence. The club paid their final farewell to ‘Cookie’ on Monday.

In tribute the club’s Gravesend ground will now be named the Steve Cook Stadium.

The club said: “He was a fantastic guy, was loved by everyone at the club and by all who knew him.

“He will be missed by so many people involved in the Kent football scene.

“The owners Chipie and Sonny Sian wanted his legacy at the club to continue and saw it fitting to name the stadium after Cookie. He was a key member of the club’s history and this is a way of remembering him and what he meant to the club and local community.”

On his passing, the club were keen to highlight the time Cookie had given to the club, helping four years ago as the club started groudn work to build the new stadium by the Elite Venue.

The club said: “Cookie was there from the beginning and he helped transform the ground and make it what it is today.

“Rain or shine he was always there for the club ensuring all the pitches were ready for all the junior, youth and adult teams. If he wasn’t working at that ground he was always in the stands supporting the team.

“They definitely don’t make people like Cookie anymore and he really was one in a million.”

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Mansfield Sand makes the difference

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Mansfield Sand makes the difference: Since using products from Mansfield Sand, Stuart Vause, Head Groundsman at Castleford Tigers, claims that the pitch has resulted in a more free-draining, firmer surface.

It is safe to say that Stuart is living the dream. As a lifelong fan of Castleford Tigers, Stuart admits that he sometimes has to pinch himself to believe that he is working for the club that he loves.

Mansfield Sand makes the difference

Mansfield Sand makes the difference

“It’s my childhood team so for me this is a very special place to work,” he said. “It is a place where I’ve watched them as a child growing up stood in the stands, I’ve been a season ticket holder and now I’m working here. There is no other place I’d rather be.”

For the past five years Stuart has been the Head Groundsman and, in that time, he has done a truly remarkable job. His work on the stadium pitch and the training pitch has been widely praised by players, fans and staff and he has also been recognised by the grounds management industry – winning the Professional Rugby Football League Grounds Team of the Year, not once, but twice in three years.

The transformation in the pitch since Stuart took over has been incredible, and in particular, Stuart believes that one of the biggest improvements has been since he started using Mansfield Sand’s MM40.

“The pitch here at the stadium is very old and there is not much drainage at all. It is the same on the training pitch,” said Stuart. “When I first came here, there would be so much standing water and drainage wouldn’t go through the profile – a lot of games would be called off if we were seeing a lot of rain.

“I thought that I really needed to get some sand into the pitch, so I got in touch with Mansfield Sand and we’ve used them ever since.”

Stuart now relies on Mansfield Sand’s MM40 which is sourced directly from the Two Oaks Quarry in Mansfield where the company produces its renowned Mansil range of Silica Sands. MM40 is a medium sand which is predominantly used in the construction and maintenance of a wide range of sports surfaces – from winter sports pitches, golf courses, bowling greens and all amenity turf areas.

Four years ago, he started by applying 20 tonnes of MM40 during his renovations but after seeing the difference it made, he has increased the quantity year-on-year and is now applying between 80-100 tonnes a year across the stadium and training pitches.

“I could see the improvements straight away,” he said. “The roots were getting deeper, the surface was getting firmer, it was more stable during the winter months, and it was starting to drain more.

Mansfield Sand makes the difference

Mansfield Sand makes the difference

“Both pitches are in the best condition I have ever seen, and I think the sand plays a big part in that. The surfaces are holding up incredibly well and last year I hardly had to do any divotting and this when there could have been two or three sessions a day on them.

“This year we had the wettest February on record – no games were cancelled and no training sessions were cancelled – whereas in the past they would have been. In fact, I remember one time when it wouldn’t stop raining and a Sky TV commentator, along with everyone else, thought that one of our games would be cancelled. When the game proceeded, he asked me what I had done to get all the water off the pitch! I think this shows what a difference the sand has made.

“It’s free-draining, consistent and the service is always brilliant. Gary Cunningham from Mansfield Sand will come in have a look and I’ll trust him to advise on what I need. After the sand is applied, he will come back in and then we’ll assess the results together. It is great to be able to have that knowledge and assistance.”

For more information visit www.mansfield-sand.co.uk

You can also follow the company on Twitter – @MansfieldSand.

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EndoSan – For Silver Service Sanitization

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EndoSan – For Silver Service Sanitization: With the relaxing of lockdown and the return of recreational activity and sport participation, Rigby Taylor has introduced EndoSan, the most advanced ionic silver based chemistry in a solution of Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2), for sanitizing a wide range of surfaces.

EndoSan provides control of Coronavirus as well as bacteria, fungi and algae when applied to a wide range of surfaces as a non-hazardous spray.

EndoSan - For Silver Service Sanitization

EndoSan – For Silver Service Sanitization

EndoSan’s positive environmental credentials provide a first-choice surface sanitizer for grounds managers, greenkeepers and contractors. Supplied in two formulations, the ready-to-use EndoSan 3 formulation is available in 500ml Trigger packs and 5 litre drums and for larger applications, EndoSan 50 is a dilutable concentrate packed in 10 litres. Larger sizes up to 1000 litres are available on request.

Areas of use include, turf and artificial playing surfaces, ‘touch-points’

in changing rooms, gyms, playgrounds and on equipment, golf course ‘furniture’. trolley’s and buggies, seating, railings, gates, flags, nets and much more

EndoSan has no odour or colour, is 100% chlorine and alcohol free and non-corrosive. Applied through a pressure sprayer, or for small areas from a ready-to- use Trigger pack, the product simply degrades into harmless, naturally occurring water and oxygen substances following application and is one of the safest forms of disinfection.

Application can be made through a pressure sprayer such as one selected from the Rigby Taylor Evolution knapsack range with two back pack model (one electric) with tank capacities of 15 litres and a lightweight 7 litre option.

EndoSan is a ‘safe biocide’ and has been approved for continuous addition to drinking water. In addition to the number of environmental benefits, the

manufacturing process also complies with ISO 14001 and environmental standards, ISO 9001 and ISO 13485

Available now from your Rigby Taylor area manager or online at www.rigbytaylor.com

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MM seed first-class at Oxford University

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MM seed first-class at Oxford University: Jon Buddington, Grounds Manager at the world-famous Oxford University, has reported excellent results from using a range of Limagrain’s MM grass seed.

Oxford University – the world-leading centre of learning, teaching and research is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. Gifted men and women have studied or taught at the University throughout its great history. Among them are 28 British Prime Ministers, at least 30 international leaders and 55 Nobel Prize winners.

MM seed first-class at Oxford University

MM seed first-class at Oxford University

Academic success aside, the University has also produced 120 Olympic medal winners and is currently ranked among the top British universities for sport thanks to coaching and student commitment.

Oxford University Sport manages the University sports facilities at Iffley Road Sports Centre and the sports pitches within University Parks and on Marston Road. The man tasked with maintaining these wonderful facilities, which consists of 24 hectares of grass surfaces, is Jon Buddington, who has been the University’s Grounds Manager for two years.

As a frequent user of Limagrain seed throughout his 30-year career history, Jon was not surprised to see Limagrain’s MM50 seed performing well on a newly constructed cricket square upon the start of his tenure at the University.

“The new cricket square was overseeded with MM50 and because of the great results we continued to use it,” he said. “Now we overseed with MM50 at the end of the cricket season and put a bit on pre-season just before we start rolling.

“We find that we get incredible results by overseeding with MM50 in the early spring when the surface is still damp, just before we start any heavy maintenance. It has been a very good seed for us especially for cricket – the MM50 has very good wear tolerance and we hardly ever get any debris.”

As Jon says, MM50, a blend of fine-leaved ryegrasses, is ideal for cricket squares and outfields. This hard-wearing mix has rapid germination, very fine leaved appearance, high shoot density and is tolerant to very close mowing, along with high disease resistance. All these attributes together produce a fantastic sward that has great colour all year round. It is also widely praised for its rapid recovery.

In the early stages of his new position at Oxford, Jon’s attentions soon turned towards the winter pitches. After consultation with trusted supplier, MW Turfcare, he was advised to try Limagrain’s MM60 seed on the rugby and football pitches.

This 100% ryegrass formula is renowned for producing an excellent playing surface. It is perfect for renovation and divot repair, has a high disease resistance, fantastic aesthetic qualities and offers extremely fast germination – which is boosted by the inclusion of Headstart GOLD®.

“We renovate and overseed with MM60 at the end of the rugby and football seasons – which all depends on fixtures which can be often drawn out depending on the weather and internal college games. Generally, we tend to apply MM60 to these pitches at the end of May and we get very good germination. The initial colour, from the infant plant is great, and we have a strong colour all year round – it never looks drawn out or yellow and tired so I’m incredibly happy with it.”

MM seed first-class at Oxford University

MM seed first-class at Oxford University

In terms of applying MM seed, Jon admits to veering away from recommended rates.

“For me, it’s all about feel and visual,” he said. “We don’t go by religious sowing rates or anything like that. In my opinion it is about getting as much grass in there as you can especially when you are taking it out and raking it and preparing cricket pitches.”

One look at the University’s immaculate and stunning sports pitches will tell you that Jon certainly knows his craft – he has after all been in the turf industry since the age of 16. However, he still modestly reserved praise for Limagrain UK and MW Turfcare.

“They are both great companies to work with. I get a fantastic product from Limagrain and Mark (from MW Turfcare) is an exceptionally good supplier. He is very technically knowledgeable – there is not much that I have to run past him but when I do, he has all the answers.”

For further information, please contact Limagrain UK on 01472 371471 or visit the company’s website www.lgseeds.co.uk/mm – you can also follow the company on Twitter: @MM_Seed

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