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Eddie Howe’s Groundsman Tribute

January 17, 2018/in Industry News, Press Release/by External Source

Eddie Howe’s Groundsman Tribute: “He was always positive, welcoming and a true supporter of this football club – I will always remember laughing with him!” Eddie Howe has given a moving tribute to former Cherries groundsman and referee liaison officer John Harriss, who passed away on Sunday, aged 88. John, who first started watching from the terraces at Dean […]

Jacobsen Impresses At Golspie

January 16, 2018/in Machinery, Press Release/by Ella Boyden

Jacobsen Impresses At Golspie: Golspie Golf Club, which is located on the Dornoch Firth in Scotland, is a versatile course which boasts a beguiling mix of classic links, heath and parkland holes. The Club has invested in a Jacobsen Eclipse 322 and a Jacobsen LF550 fairway mower from Textron Golf to maintain the different surfaces […]

Eddie Howe’s Groundsman Tribute

January 17, 2018/in Industry News, Press Release/by External Source

Jacobsen Impresses At Golspie

January 16, 2018/in Machinery, Press Release/by Ella Boyden

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Eddie Howe’s Groundsman Tribute

January 17, 2018/in Industry News, Press Release/by External Source

Eddie Howe’s Groundsman Tribute: “He was always positive, welcoming and a true supporter of this football club – I will always remember laughing with him!”

Eddie Howe has given a moving tribute to former Cherries groundsman and referee liaison officer John Harriss, who passed away on Sunday, aged 88.

John, who first started watching from the terraces at Dean Court in 1939, joined the staff in 1970 and spent 37 years tending the pitch.

He died at home just hours after watching on television as Cherries toppled Premier League big guns Arsenal, one of the Dorset club’s most famous victories.

Howe said: “I spoke to John on Friday and he said he wouldn’t be at the game but would be watching. It’s a nice thought to think that was the last game he saw.

“What a character! I will always remember laughing with him about so many different things and that laughter and spirit will remain with me.

“His loss is very sad and will affect a lot of people. Our thoughts are with his wife Deirdre and we would like to send our condolences to her and the family.”

John took his first steps as a groundsman during his National Service at Bulford Camp on Salisbury Plain before joining Cherries as assistant and then head groundsman.

In 2013, his contribution to the club was recognised when he was awarded with a high commendation for the Unsung Hero Award at the Football League Awards in London.

Howe, one of 19 managers he worked alongside, added: “Football clubs are brought together by a lot of different things but people really make them.

“One of my first memories of coming to this club was meeting a groundsman who was obsessed with his pitch and who didn’t want anyone on it.

“He would shout at you for stepping on it, as would most groundsmen, but he had a warmth about him that was different to anyone I had met before.

“Knowing John over a long period of time and seeing him at different stages of his life, he was unique in the fact that he was always positive, always welcoming and was a true AFC Bournemouth supporter.

“We will miss him greatly on matchdays. I used to phone him regularly during the week to talk football and will miss those calls as well.”

Keen to stay involved with the club, John took up a role looking after referees on matchdays and had recently been presented with a shirt by Premier League official Lee Probert as a mark of their thanks to him.

Howe added: “It’s never an easy job when you have managers wanting to vent their frustration at referees but John would always be in the middle mediating!

“The biggest compliment I can give him is every referee who came back here would greet him with a hug and a smile and they would talk about old times. He will be missed by everyone.”

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Jacobsen Impresses At Golspie

January 16, 2018/in Machinery, Press Release/by Ella Boyden

“Jacobsen has provided us with the quality and versatility we need to maintain all areas of the course,” Alexander MacDonald, Head Greenkeeper at Golspie Golf Club said. “We face many challenges such as maintaining the correct and uniformed moisture levels over varying terrains, so when it comes to cutting grass, we want reliable equipment that produces a really good finish with minimal fuss. I am proud to say we’ve achieved that with the Jacobsen machines that we have purchased.”

Previously using alternative fairway mowers, Alexander observed that it took the team 40 minutes to set a machine before it was ready to cut the fairways. Conversely, the new Jacobsen LF550 is easily set in five minutes, with adjustments rarely having to be made to the cutting units.

Routine service items, including spin-on filters, are all easily accessible meaning that there’s no need for a lift. The FlashAttach™ Reel Mounting System allows for quick reel removal, and the active monitoring system provides full text diagnostics making the LF550 easy to monitor and maintain. Additionally, hard tubing with bulkhead fittings to hoses make long-term maintenance easier with fewer service parts to stock.

“We only have three full-time greenkeeping staff, so we can’t be wasting time repairing and setting machinery. This is where the LF550 has really helped us; it’s reliable, it produces a brilliant finish, and it doesn’t demand a lot of time to maintain and set-up.

“The Eclipse 322 is the best cutting machine in golf. It’s a pleasure to use on the greens, and the team loves the satisfaction of producing first-class greens which the golfers often compliment them on. Of course, having good machinery is important, but the back-up from the dealer is even more so. Our local dealer Fairways has been brilliant. Fairways has been very efficient and helpful, and if we need anything the dealer is with us within a day, meaning there isn’t any downtime.”

Alexander has been at the club for 10 years, having spent 3 ½ years at Royal Dornoch and 6 ½ years at Wentworth. Golspie Golf Club is celebrating its 128-year anniversary and was voted number 54 in Golf World’s “Scotland’s Top 100 Courses” in 2015.

For more information, visit: www.textron.com

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Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

Eddie Howe’s Groundsman Tribute

Jacobsen Impresses At Golspie

Eddie Howe’s Groundsman Tribute

Jacobsen Impresses At Golspie

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Eddie Howe’s Groundsman Tribute

Jacobsen Impresses At Golspie

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