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Johnsons Sports Seed delivers performance under pressure

April 8, 2026/in News, Press Release, Sport/by Admin

Johnsons Sports Seed delivers performance under pressure As a busy multi-sport facility, resilience of surfaces at Bristol University isn’t a luxury – it’s a necessity. Helping Grounds Manager Matt Carroll deliver consistent, high-quality pitches for winter and summer sports are mixtures from the Johnsons Sports Seed range, producing performance he and his team of four […]

We’re in safe hands

April 8, 2026/in Turf Spotlight/by Admin

We’re in safe hands Scott MacCallum catches up with two of the winners of the GMA’s 35 under 35 initiative. It’s not always wise to make predictions. Usually there is one chance to be a hero but many more chances of looking like a fool. But here I am about to do just that. I […]

Johnsons Sports Seed delivers performance under pressure

April 8, 2026/in News, Press Release, Sport/by Admin

We’re in safe hands

April 8, 2026/in Turf Spotlight/by Admin

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Johnsons Sports Seed delivers performance under pressure

April 8, 2026/in News, Press Release, Sport/by Admin

Johnsons Sports Seed delivers performance under pressure

As a busy multi-sport facility, resilience of surfaces at Bristol University isn’t a luxury – it’s a necessity. Helping Grounds Manager Matt Carroll deliver consistent, high-quality pitches for winter and summer sports are mixtures from the Johnsons Sports Seed range, producing performance he and his team of four can rely on season after season.

Johnsons Sports Seed delivers performance under pressure

Matt has been with the University for over 20 years, stepping into the Grounds Manager role three years ago which sees him in charge of 38 acres of grounds, natural and artificial surfaces used heavily by university teams and the local community. “We accommodate a lot of sport – demand is through the roof!” exclaims Matt. “We don’t get much in the way of renovation or turnaround windows so the surfaces need to be resilient, recover quickly and, of course, look good.”

For close to a decade, delivering all of those qualities have been mixtures from the Johnsons Sports Seed range. “We’ve used various mixes over the years but have recently found a combination of J Premier Pitch on our winter sports pitches and two of the cricket outfields, and J Premier Wicket on the squares delivers the reliability we need.”

“We rely heavily on overseeding, often only having a matter of a few weeks when the sporting season changes and with Johnsons, the establishment and uptake we’ve had has been outstanding. Knowing you can get those results in a short timeframe makes a huge difference.” He adds, “Not only that but the colour is vivid year-round and they can stand up to the challenge of back-to back play.”

Reinforcing the quality of Bristol’s pitches, the venue was proudly chosen as a training venue for 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup. “We were delighted to host the Canadian national team. It was full on but really showcased the best of our surfaces and the products we’re using.”

“Our Regional Technical Manager Ian Barnett has also always been a great help, providing technical advice to help us make the very best selection.” Together with the team, Matt was recently fortunate enough to visit the DLF Living Catalogue and trials centre. “This just shows you’re getting the best product, that’s thoroughly tested and delivers results in every bag and on every surface.”

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We’re in safe hands

April 8, 2026/in Turf Spotlight/by Admin

We’re in safe hands

Scott MacCallum catches up with two of the winners of the GMA’s 35 under 35 initiative.

We’re in safe hands

It’s not always wise to make predictions. Usually there is one chance to be a hero but many more chances of looking like a fool. But here I am about to do just that. I am predicting that the future of our industry is secure and in safe hands.

I am predicting that the future of our industry is secure and in safe hands.

I say this, confidently, having sat down with two of the ICL’s supported GMA’s 35 under 35s winners and seeing just how wise both are and just how much they care about the industry.

Daniel Puicar is Head Gardener at Middleton Hall Trust in Warwickshire, and Sean Faulkner is Sales and Marketing Director for Kersten UK and one of the country’s leading experts in sustainable weed management.

Daniel and Sean may come from different sides of the industry, but they are equally thought provoking on so many issues.

Asked where they think the industry would be in 10 years’ time Sean felt that it was something very much in the hands of the younger participants currently working within it.

“It’s up to us. Well, to a point,” he said. “Lots of people of my dad’s age (Baby Boomers and Gen X) are starting to retire now and there are a great many of them in our industry. And, at the moment, there are not that many of our generation and younger to fill that gap,” he explained.

“I believe that it’s critical that we encourage the people who are in our generation to take the reins, make a difference and shape the industry into how we want it to be shaped.

Otherwise, we’re going to be left with whatever industry we’ve given.

“So, as I said, in that sense, it’s down to us what it looks like in in ten years’ time,” added Sean.

Daniel has a similar take on the concerning age demographic within the industry.

“I am anxious about the exit from the industry versus the entrance into the industry. We are losing knowledge, and that’s knowledge that you don’t find in books. It’s knowledge that is not passed down,” said Daniel.

“But if you ever work with someone who’s been in the industry for 20, 30 or 40 years, you know that what they know is pure gold. And that is what we’re losing.”

The $64,000 question therefore is, “What can be done to attract young people into the industry?”

Well, Daniel can’t believe that he is lucky enough to be working in a job that he loves so much.

“Doing something creative is often linked to the satisfaction that you get from a hobby, while doing a job is sometimes seen as something much more routine.

When you mix the two together, you are in the lovely position of achieving satisfaction from doing your job.”

Daniel is also one of the few people who takes a positive from the poor wages that are so common place within the industry.

“The fact that the industry is so underpaid actually shows that the people who are in it are not in it for the money. They’re in it because they love it. That to me is a brilliant selling point to the industry.”

Highlighting what great job opportunities are within our industry is something with Sean has been actively working on recently.

We’re in safe hands

He is a trustee of a charity called Managing the Green Planet which builds awareness of career options.

They do it through virtual reality. They’ve got glasses that they give to students and they show them what it’s like to be a day in the life of the guy who managing Lords or Wimbledon or a National Trust estate.

“So that’s exciting and a way of showing just out varied and interesting jobs in our industry can be.”

On that theme Sean highlighted the variety of jobs the industry offers up and the value he gives from his own role.

“It’s an interesting industry with a lot of potential to go places and make big differences. What I’m doing may sound quite boring, but, in reality, I’m solving problems with air and water quality; with surface water; with potholes that everybody complains about, with weeds themselves, So, there’s ways of making a massive impact if that’s what you want.

“For example if National Trust sites weren’t maintained at such a high level, and interesting things done with the gardens and if the paths didn’t look pristine.

“I’m sure the number of visitors would drop alarmingly. People like to see lovely gardens and paths and it is the people within our industry who make them happen.”

“Being a steward of what we have is really important. I think we need to connect more as a country to our history and to our culture and roots,” said Sean.

So, you can see that I’m not exactly going out on a limb to say that we have some pretty smart cookies among the younger generation of industry professionals. While the rest of us are looking back at our careers from the comfort of our armchairs they will be forging forward making things better for the generation which follows them. For me I’m just hoping to sneak into the 65 under 65s before even that is too late!

THE FULL WINNERS OF THE GMA 35 UNDER 35:

Luis Arregui – Real Madrid C.F, Deputy Grounds Manager
Tom Bacon – Brighton and Hove Albion FC, Groundsperson
Alex Brierley – The All England Lawn Tennis Club, Groundstaff and Lead Irrigation
Louise Challiss – PAN Publicity Limited, Managing Director
Luke Chapman – Brighton and Hove Albion FC, Deputy Head Groundsperson
Evan Davies – Swansea City AFC, Head of Grounds
Max Drummond Smillie – Fargro Ltd, Head of Amenity
Alex Earle – Tennisclub Weissenhof, Head Groundsman
Sean Faulkner – Kersten UK Ltd, Sales and Marketing Director
Matthew Gibson – The All England Lawn Tennis Club, Groundsperson
Flynn Good – Leicester City Football Club, Skilled Sports Turf Operative
Matt Harris – Whitgift School, Groundsperson
Stanley Hayden – Fulham FC, Deputy Head of Grounds
Brad Jefferies – Colchester United Football Club, Head Groundsman
Ben Kim – K-League, The member of Pitch Assist
Jack Langley – Ashton Gate Stadium, Deputy Head Groundsperson
Rob Langley – University of Cambridge Sport, Sports Grounds & Facilities Supervisor
Meg Lay – Lord’s Cricket Ground, Groundswoman
Jack Leather – Liverpool Football Club, Specialist Groundsperson
Oliver Mahon – Bradfield College, Head of Grounds
Maritza Martinez – St. Louis CITY SC, Associate Director of Stadium Grounds
John Paul McAvoy – Preston North End, Groundsman
Santiago Molinaro – Independent Professional, Agronomist
Kane Munday – Norwich City Football Club, Assistant Head of Grounds
Matthew Noke – Bristol City FC, Groundsperson
Daniel Puicar – Middleton Hall Trust, Head Gardener
Adam Radley – Stamford School, Deputy Head of Grounds & Gardens
Ethan Reed – Nottingham Forest Football Club, Pitch Performance Manager
David Ridley – Wiltshire County Football Association, Facility Operations Manager
George Sheath – University of Southampton, Grounds Advisor (Head of Grounds)
Aaron Stevenson – London Stadium, Deputy Head Groundsperson
Bradley Tennant – International Greenkeepers, Director
Aaron Tong – Hull City AFC, Head of Grounds
Ben Tuckwell – Nuture Group, Grounds Maintenance Operative
Dewi Williams – Football Association of Wales, Club Developer

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

Johnsons Sports Seed delivers performance under pressure

We’re in safe hands

Johnsons Sports Seed delivers performance under pressure

We’re in safe hands

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Johnsons Sports Seed delivers performance under pressure

Johnsons Sports Seed delivers performance under pressure

We’re in safe hands

We’re in safe hands

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