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Ground renamed in honour of groundsman

August 10, 2020/in Industry News, News, Press Release/by External Source

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 […]

Mansfield Sand makes the difference

August 7, 2020/in News, Press Release/by Lucy Nicholls

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 […]

Ground renamed in honour of groundsman

August 10, 2020/in Industry News, News, Press Release/by External Source

Mansfield Sand makes the difference

August 7, 2020/in News, Press Release/by Lucy Nicholls

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Ground renamed in honour of groundsman

August 10, 2020/in Industry News, News, Press Release/by External Source

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

August 7, 2020/in News, Press Release/by Lucy Nicholls

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

“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

“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.

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.

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

Ground renamed in honour of groundsman

Mansfield Sand makes the difference

Ground renamed in honour of groundsman

Mansfield Sand makes the difference

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Ground renamed in honour of groundsman

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

Mansfield Sand makes the difference

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.

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