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Andy Jackson inducted into GMA Hall of Fame

September 24, 2024/in featured, Industry News/by Admin

Andy Jackson inducted into GMA Hall of Fame: The Grounds Management Association (GMA) is proud to announce the induction of Andy Jackson, Grounds Manager at Stoke City Football Club, into the prestigious GMA Hall of Fame as part of its 90th anniversary celebrations. This honour recognises Andy’s outstanding contributions to both professional and grassroots football […]

GroundsFest 2024: More Exhibitors, More Visitors, More Excitement

September 24, 2024/in Events, News, Press Release/by Admin

GroundsFest 2024: More Exhibitors, More Visitors, More Excitement: The second edition of GroundsFest, held on 10 and 11 September at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire, has firmly established itself as the UK’s largest grounds management and landscaping event. Following a strong debut in 2023, this year’s show exceeded all expectations, marking a significant milestone in its […]

Andy Jackson inducted into GMA Hall of Fame

September 24, 2024/in featured, Industry News/by Admin

GroundsFest 2024: More Exhibitors, More Visitors, More Excitement

September 24, 2024/in Events, News, Press Release/by Admin

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Andy Jackson inducted into GMA Hall of Fame

September 24, 2024/in featured, Industry News/by Admin

Andy Jackson inducted into GMA Hall of Fame: The Grounds Management Association (GMA) is proud to announce the induction of Andy Jackson, Grounds Manager at Stoke City Football Club, into the prestigious GMA Hall of Fame as part of its 90th anniversary celebrations.

This honour recognises Andy’s outstanding contributions to both professional and grassroots football over the past three decades.

Andy Jackson inducted into GMA Hall of Fame

Andy has been a cornerstone of the grounds management industry, dedicating almost 30 years to ensuring the pitches at Stoke City’s bet365 Stadium and Clayton Wood Training Ground are among the best in the country. His commitment to the industry has earned him a reputation beyond Stoke City, including the recruitment by FIFA to manage pitches for high-profile international events such as the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

Andy’s impact extends far beyond the professional arena – for more than 12 years, he has been a driving force in improving grassroots football pitches across Staffordshire, providing invaluable support and mentorship to local clubs and volunteers. His involvement in grassroots football began with the early incarnation of the FA Pitch Improvement Programme (PIP) in 2012 and has since continued with the Pitch Advisory Service (PAS), formerly the Grounds and Natural Turf Improvement Programme (GaNTIP).

During this time, Andy has made incredible contributions to the football community in Staffordshire, assisting in the improvement of around 65 grassroots football sites, equating to more than 150 pitches. His work has not only involved hands-on pitch care but also the preparation of detailed reports offering clubs actionable advice and access to his network within the turf maintenance industry.

Geoff Webb, Grounds Management Association Chief Executive Officer said: “Andy’s induction into the GMA Hall of Fame is a testament to his dedication to the grounds management industry.

His passion, not only at Stoke City but also in grassroots football, has left a lasting legacy that clubs will benefit from in years to come. His contributions go beyond the technical aspects of the job; he has been a mentor and an advocate for raising the standards of pitches across Staffordshire and surrounding areas for over a decade. We are incredibly proud to honour him as part of our 90th anniversary celebrations and look forward to seeing his continued influence on the next generation of groundskeepers.”

Andy has been instrumental in supporting Staffordshire FA through initiatives such as CPD evenings at Stoke City’s facilities and by assisting with the delivery of pitch improvement workshops for volunteer groundskeepers. His willingness to voluntarily give up his time to share his expertise has made a lasting impact on the quality of grassroots football in the county.

Kevin Staples, Head of Delivery at the Staffordshire FA said: “Andy has been an integral part in Staffordshire FA’s Pitch Improvement programme since 2012. His knowledge, expertise and commitment to the programme has enabled numerous clubs, leagues and individuals to improve their grass pitches and the overall experience for participants in the game. The impact he has had on volunteers across the county has been immeasurable, with the time he has taken to educate and advise something we cannot thank him enough for. On behalf of the Staffordshire FA and Grassroots Football we are proud to see Andy being inducted into the GMA Hall of Fame.”

Andy Jackson, Stoke City Grounds Manager and GMA Hall of Fame Inductee said: “I’m incredibly honoured to be inducted into the GMA Hall of Fame, especially during the Association’s 90th anniversary. It is a privilege to come to work here at Stoke City every day, where we take great pride in the work we do within the grassroots football community. To see the impact we’ve made together, improving pitches and the game for players at all levels, is really rewarding.”

Kevin Duffill, former GMA Regional Pitch Adviser said: “This award is fantastic recognition of Andy’s dedication to the profession and his achievements over the last 29 years. Beyond his exceptional work on the stadium pitch, he has played a pivotal role in the development of Clayton Wood, especially as the number of teams has grown, including female football. I also recall the many Staffordshire FA workshops hosted there under Andy’s guidance. One standout memory is when a club with a 12-acre site attended a session and asked how to best spend their £500 budget. That same club went on to win both County FA and GMA awards.”

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GroundsFest 2024: More Exhibitors, More Visitors, More Excitement

September 24, 2024/in Events, News, Press Release/by Admin

GroundsFest 2024: More Exhibitors, More Visitors, More Excitement: The second edition of GroundsFest, held on 10 and 11 September at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire, has firmly established itself as the UK’s largest grounds management and landscaping event. Following a strong debut in 2023, this year’s show exceeded all expectations, marking a significant milestone in its young history.

With 8,014 visitors across two days—4,738 on day one and 3,276 on day two—GroundsFest 2024 saw an impressive increase in attendance, a remarkable feat for an event that only launched last year. The expanded event layout immediately immersed visitors in the action, creating an engaging and dynamic atmosphere from the moment they arrived.

One of the standout features of this year’s GroundsFest was the introduction of Machinery Nation LIVE, which captivated large crowds with thrilling machinery face-offs. Visitors watched top brands go head-to-head in a series of entertaining and rigorous trials, comparing performance across categories such as petrol vs. battery, agility, power, and more. Machinery Nation LIVE also provided interactive equipment challenges where attendees could compete for prizes, adding to the excitement and engagement throughout the show.

And speaking of prizes, GroundsFest 2024 was a treasure trove for lucky visitors. Attendees had the chance to win a wide range of impressive prizes, including a Toro ProStripe 560, a CyberTank portable power station and up to £20,000 worth of Kress tools, an award-winning battery pruner SC 100e and a SWIFT 372e battery garden ride-on mower from STIGA, an EGO Pro X battery-powered pedestrian mower, a Union Jack Turf Tank robot, and much more.

Innovation took centre stage at GroundsFest 2024 as over 60 new products were launched, providing visitors with a firsthand look at the latest in grounds management and landscaping technology. The mix of indoor and outdoor areas also struck a perfect balance. Indoors, a vibrant show floor offered a diverse range of exhibitors showcasing products and services, while the seminar theatres hosted a wealth of educational sessions, all free to attend.

The Landscape Zone, an entire hall dedicated to professionals in the design, planning, and construction of outdoor spaces in the landscaping sector proved to be popular, adding another dimension to the show’s offering.

Grounds Training practical sessions were another highlight, attracting large crowds eager to learn from experienced instructors on the use and maintenance of pedestrian mowers, ride-on mowers, handheld machinery, and sprayers.

Hands-on experience is one of GroundsFest’s key strengths, and attendees once again relished the opportunity to test out equipment before making purchasing decisions. The Avant National Pro Challenge was also a hit, with participants showcasing their skills in an exciting competition that involved slaloms, material handling, and tool changes in an Avant Loader.

Beyond the business of grounds management and landscaping, the festival atmosphere of GroundsFest offered a fun way for exhibitors and visitors alike to unwind. The popular happy hour, live bands, and free bumper cars added to the entertainment, ensuring that GroundsFest was not just about work but also about building relationships and enjoying the industry’s camaraderie.

Event Director Christopher Bassett summed up the event’s success, saying: “It’s incredible to see how much support GroundsFest has received from every corner of the industry. The growth from last year has been phenomenal, and we’re so grateful to all the exhibitors, visitors, and partners who made this year’s show such a success. As we look to the future, we want to continue growing and evolving the show—and the only way to do that is by listening to the industry. That’s why we encourage everyone to take the time to fill out the surveys we’ve sent out. Your feedback is invaluable.”

GroundsFest 2025 is already on the horizon, set to take place on 9 and 10 September at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire. After this year’s monumental success, anticipation is already building for what promises to be an even bigger and better event next year.

For more information, please visit www.groundsfest.com

You can also follow GroundsFest on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @GroundsFest for much more news, reviews and insightful views.

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.

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Andy Jackson inducted into GMA Hall of Fame

GroundsFest 2024: More Exhibitors, More Visitors, More Excitement

Andy Jackson inducted into GMA Hall of Fame

GroundsFest 2024: More Exhibitors, More Visitors, More Excitement

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Andy Jackson inducted into GMA Hall of Fame

Andy Jackson inducted into GMA Hall of Fame: The Grounds Management Association (GMA) is proud to announce the induction of Andy Jackson, Grounds Manager at Stoke City Football Club, into the prestigious GMA Hall of Fame as part of its 90th anniversary celebrations.

GroundsFest 2024: More Exhibitors, More Visitors, More Excitement

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