Tag Archive for: Stoke

SVR 1500 Proves Vital for Stoke City

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SVR 1500 Proves Vital for Stoke City: Stoke City FC’s long-standing Grounds Manager, Andy Jackson, believes that synthetic pitches demand more attention than people might expect – and that’s exactly why the Syn-Pro by SISIS SVR 1500 has become an essential part of his maintenance regime at the training ground.

“We carry out around eight to ten hours of maintenance work each week on our synthetic pitch,” says Andy, who has been with the club for over 30 years. “People forget that synthetic pitches require a lot more maintenance than they think. But if you stay on top of it and do it properly, it can make a huge difference to the longevity and quality of the surface.”

SVR 1500 Proves Vital for Stoke City

SVR 1500 Proves Vital for Stoke City

The SVR 1500 – a two-in-one deep cleaning and decompaction machine – plays a central role in that strategy. Part of Syn-Pro by SISIS range, the SVR 1500 has been in regular use at Stoke’s training ground for the past two years, and Andy has been thoroughly impressed.

“We wanted a machine that was robust, simple to use and gives us the quality finish that we require. The SVR 1500 cleans the surface, distributes the rubber evenly, and leaves a good finish.”

Used primarily in the spring and summer months when conditions are dry, the SVR 1500 is ideal for ensuring the rubber doesn’t clump together. It also allows Andy’s team to carry out both light and deep cleans as and when needed.

For Andy, usability is just as important as performance. “I don’t want something that takes hours to set up with lots of buttons or settings. With this machine, it’s just so simple – If we don’t want to go too deep, we don’t have to. It’s simple to set the machine to how you want it.

When you’ve got a big team, it’s important that the machines we use are staff friendly.”

The SVR 1500’s effectiveness in removing debris also came as a surprise. “I was shocked when I first looked at the baskets at the back of the filters. I didn’t realise how much debris it was collecting – and that prompted us to use it even more regularly.”

Beyond the machine’s contribution to synthetic surface management, it aligns well with Andy’s wider philosophy in terms of longevity and sustainability. Stoke City FC is proudly pesticide-free – a decision made over a decade ago and one that continues to challenge and inspire the grounds team.

“If something’s got a shelf life of 10 years, can we get 12 years out of it? Can we get 14 years? That’s the aim. Because it’s a massive job to take a synthetic carpet out and put a new one in and then recycling that carpet is not easy. So, we want to expand the life of the synthetic pitch as much as we can – and the SVR 1500 helps us do that.

“For me, having a good support network is crucial – from fertilisers to machinery to line marking. You’ve got to have the right people around you, and the right tools in the garage. And sometimes, the hardest thing is doing nothing. Just looking at the pitch and saying: today, she just needs a rest.”

With Andy’s passion for sustainable practices, and top-quality playing surfaces, it’s no surprise the SVR 1500 has become a mainstay in Stoke City FC’s maintenance plan.

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact Syn-Pro by SISIS on 01332 824 777 or visit www.synprobysisis.com

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Syn-Pro on Twitter or Instagram @synprobysisis and like the company’s Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/SynPro-by-SISIS.

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MM60 Superior For Stoke City

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MM60 Superior For Stoke City: When Andy Jackson, grounds manager at Stoke City FC, trialled a number of different seed mixtures eight years ago, he felt that there was one in particular which was far superior and that was Limagrain UK’s MM60.

From apprentice to grounds manager, Andy Jackson has been at Stoke City FC throughout his entire career. Arguably there is not one person who knows the stadium and training ground better and there is certainly no-one better placed to know what the pitches need in order to thrive.

MM60 Superior For Stoke City

“We like to think of the pitches like athletes so they need the correct nutrients to perform,” he said. “I like to think that it is a case of our pitches going to see the doctor or the nutritionist every day.”

Andy oversees the maintenance of the pitch at the bet365 Stadium and all of the facilities at Clayton Wood, Stoke City FC’s Training Ground and Academy, which includes a further eleven natural pitches. The facility hosts club players from the first team all the way down to Under 9’s and sees approximately 120 players through the door every day.

It is safe to say that the pitches experience a lot of usage and eight years ago Andy decided to trial a number of new grass seed mixtures.

“We trialled MM60 eight years ago at the training ground and were very happy with what we saw,” he said. “I felt that the MM seed was far superior to the other brands we were using and since then we have been 100% MM60 over both sites and that’s from renovation to overseeding throughout the winter.”

Limagrain’s MM60 grass seed is renowned for producing an excellent playing surface. It is a 100% Ryegrass formula which 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®.

“I believe that the MM range really excels because of the products they use on the seed such as Headstart GOLD®. It is particularly suited to where the industry is heading in the future – so it is not a case of putting lots of nitrogen onto the seed and flushing it up, it is more a case of the seed being nurtured gradually and healthy and I think that is where we do really well in the summer months. I’ve noticed that Headstart also helps with disease resistance and provides good plant protection too.”

MM60 now includes Limagrain’s new Ryegrass cultivar Annecy which has outstanding disease resistance particularly against Leaf Spot, something which particularly struck a chord with Andy.

“We used to have quite a lot of Leaf Spot which is quite common in Ryegrass situations in stadiums and training grounds,” he continued. “I believe that the MM60 seed has helped us to cut that out by at least 60%.”

At the Academy, Andy and his team will start renovations around mid-April and at the stadium they will typically start in June. After sowing MM60 during renovations Andy claims that the first cut will be carried out normally eleven days after the seed has been applied. When it comes to overseeding in winter, Andy will apply three to four bags of MM60 after every home game.

“We still get great germination from the seed throughout the winter,” said Andy. “I’m also very impressed with the fineness of the leaf. The leaf is finer than any of the other products we have used in the past which means we can get more plants per square metre. So, what we find is that after a match we are getting less damage to the pitch, and if there is a scar or a divot then it actually recovers faster. It can fill the space back in very quickly and for me that is a huge benefit.

“For me, the back-up offered by the companies I work with is essential and I believe the customer service from Limagrain fantastic. We even involve them in some of the conversations we have about other products, not just seed, because we are always looking at new way’s we can improve the pitch and I trust and value their input.”

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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