Tag Archive for: Town

Ilkley Town back up and running

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Ilkley Town back up and running: Ilkley Town AFC is back up and running in the wake of flooding by Storm Ciara.

“We’re very pleased to be back up and running again,” said Richard Giles, chairman of Ilkley Town. “When Storm Ciara hit, the river burst its banks and came on to the pitch.”

Since then, 20 teams of players and coaches across the whole of the football club have been unable to train or play games for the last two-and-a-half weeks.

Ilkley’s first team, who play on the all-weather pitch at Ben Rhydding Sports Club, have relied on the help of at least 50 volunteers to bring the playing facilities back into use again.

“We’ve brushed and disinfected the pitch,” said Giles. “We’ve worked hard on it, and have had a lot of volunteers to come and help. We’ve had a great response from the community, and players, parents and coaches have all volunteered their time.”

When asked if the floods had disrupted the improvements Ilkley Town need to carry out to upgrade their facilities in case of possible promotion, Giles said: “It’s distracted us, but even during the flooding from Storm Ciara the decorator was inside the pavilion refurbishing the changing room while the flooding was happening. It’s built up higher than the pitch, so it looked like it was in the middle of a lake.”

The hard work by the volunteers has meant for the first time since Storm Ciara, Ilkley’s first team will be able to train in preparation for this Saturday’s West Yorkshire League Cup match against Carlton Athletic. Kick-off is 2pm at Ben Rhydding Sports Club.

With their last two games called off because of the weather, Giles said: “The players will be a bit rusty as they get back to match sharpness. However, every other team will be the same boat.”

Giles said Ilkley Town are just one of the teams who use the facilities at Ben Rhydding Sports Club affected by the flooding.

“The Ben Rhydding hockey pitch had been under water and the groundsman at Ben Rhydding Cricket Club has been working hard to get the pitch back into shape.”

He added that two grass 11-a-side pitches and three mini pitches used by Ilkley Town’s junior teams seem to be okay despite the flooding.

“They’re not too bad,” said Giles. “Once the river goes down, they drain well.”

Giles said the flooding caused by Storm Ciara is rare, and he said the only time he had seen anything like it was Boxing Day 2015. He also said the end of March last year was pretty bad as well.

“It has flooded four out of the last five years after not having flooded before that,” said Giles. “We’re just crossing our fingers that the worse is behind us.”

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Award For Beccles Town Groundsman

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Award For Beccles Town Groundsman: Beccles Town have been crowned winners of the Suffolk FA Groundsman of the Year sponsored by Ransomes at the first time of asking.

The club had never previously entered the competition, which is open to clubs in the county at Step 7 and below.

The five members of the Judging Panel visited this year’s seven entrants on Thursday and were unanimous in their choice of Beccles Town as winner.

Chris Brown and Shaun Soloman are joint groundsmen at the club, who play in the Premier Division of the Hadley & Ottaway Anglian Combination.

Tony Adams of Claydon, the 2017 winner, was runner-up and Bryan Simmonds of Bacton United 89, who won the competition in 2016, was third.

Beccles Town will receive £200 to be spent on groundscare equipment, with Claydon receiving £100 and Bacton united 89 £50.

The groundsmen from all three clubs will be invited to attend the Suffolk FA Awards Ceremony later this year to receive their prizes.

Coddenham Athletic, Leiston St Margarets, Old Newton United and Westerfield United, whose groundsman is Ipswich Town’s 1978 FA Cup Final winning goalscorer Roger Osborne, were the other four clubs to enter the competition.

Beccles Town Vice-Chairman Mark Jermey, who nominated Chris Brown and Shaun Soloman, said: “I am so delighted for Chris and Solly, who have transformed College Meadow over the past few years.

“They have transformed not only the playing surface but the facilities at College Meadow. Their most outstanding quality, aside from hard work, is their ability to enthuse others to donate time and resources.”

Ipswich Town FC Head Groundsman Ben Connell, who led the Judging Panel, said: “I have been impressed with the groundsmen’s innovation and can-do attitude in making and servicing their own machinery to help maintain their football pitches.

“This has influenced the quality we have seen today.”

Phil Jeggo, Regional Pitch Advisor for the Institute of Groundsmen, said: “It is very encouraging to see the increase in the number of entries this year in the county.

“Full credit to all the volunteer groundsmen for producing high-quality standard pitches in the challenging conditions we’ve experienced over the past 12 months.”

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Pitch Perfect At Swindon Town

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Pitch Perfect At Swindon Town: Long summer hours, ensuring a pre-planned fertiliser programme is on target and achieving the right aeration balance – you could consider all of the above to be traits required by one of Wiltshire’s many farmers.

But it also applies to Swindon Town’s chief groundsman Marcus Cassidy, who is midway through his 18th season at the club.

It’s a job that started for the Stonehouse-born groundsman by chance after he landed the role through a friend before completing various courses to expand his qualifications.

He now works alongside apprentice Conor Collins – who spends his Saturday’s working on Southampton’s pitch – while using an army of 10 volunteers to ensure the pitch is prepared to perfection ahead of matchday.

A fortnight ago on Saturday proved a rare occurrence for Cassidy as Town’s home game against Forest Green Rovers was postponed due to heavy snowfall.

But it was only dangerous conditions around the perimeter of the Energy Check County Ground that forced the game off – with the club deeming the pitch as fit to play on.

“Snow is a great insulator,” explained Cassidy. “So if the ground isn’t frozen, the snow will keep the frost out – and vice-versa.

“Our pitch is a very old pitch, it’s essentially a sand and soil pitch. Premier League, Championship and even some pitches in League Two are hybrid – they are three to five per cent plastic.”

assidy has every right to claim the County Ground as one of the truest pitches in League Two, and he pinned that down to the investment provided by chairman Lee Power and chief executive Steve Anderson.

While he accepts he is a way off having the tools Premier League staff have to their disposal, Cassidy revealed the club is more than half way there to being home to world-class equipment used by top teams including Manchester City, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

He added: “The club has invested in the machinery that I can use in the last three years.

“That makes things a lot easier. When you’re waiting on contractors, they might not be able to get there or might be on another job.

“With the tools I’ve got, I can go out and do what I want, when I want.

“That’s why the pitch is holding up well, because the club has invested.

“I’m always asking for more equipment. In the Premiership, they get what tools they want.

“We try and improve a little bit each year. I’m under no illusions, when you get relegated into League Two budgets will be cut.

“But Steve Anderson and Lee Power do try and keep the pitch to the standard it is. They expect a good pitch, and they want a good pitch.

“It’s a slow process – I’ll always ask for more than I can get. They can only say no.”

Watching the game often comes second on Cassidy’s list, who has his eyes on the ball more than anything else come 3pm on Saturday.

And you can rest assured he and his hard-working team of staff will be putting the hours in ahead of Town’s next home game against Grimsby Town on February 23.

“You try and watch the game, but I’m watching the ball more than anything,” said Cassidy.

“I want to see the ball rolling well. When I watch the highlights, I’ll watch them twice – I study the pitch first and then the goals.

“It’s pretty sad, but that’s my job.

“We do less hours in the winter – sometimes you just leave it alone. You can do more damage by overworking a pitch.

“Less is more in the winter.”

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Town & Country Launch New Products At GLEE

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Town & Country Launch New Products At GLEE: Since acquiring Town & Country just one year ago, E.P. Barrus has fully refreshed and updated its offering, with 2019 seeing 120 new products added, following on from extensive customer research and product development. The Town & Country stand at Glee will showcase the entire range, which includes new boots and gloves, as well as gift sets and gardening accessories.

The new Buckingham Boots, available in navy and green, are contemporary and stylish, combining the durability of PVC with the comfort of an integral 4mm neoprene sock. The contoured design and stretch-to-fit neoprene make them extremely comfortable to wear and are 100% waterproof, meaning that feet will stay dry whatever the conditions.

Town & Country Launch New Products At GLEE

The Burford Boots are available in navy, and, made of PVC, are lightweight, with a contoured design and fully lined inner for added comfort. The tread provides great grip for underfoot security on all surfaces

A very on trend addition to the line-up is the Chelsea Boot. These fashionable Chelsea style boots are easy to slip on with a stretchy gusset and comfortable liner. The lightweight PVC is waterproof and ideal for everyday use whilst providing the protection when needed, not to mention stylish good looks!

A very practical new product is the boot bag. Lightweight and durable, the PVC polyester coated bag will protect the home and car from muddy boots and has both a carry strap and shoulder strap to offer a choice of convenient ways to carry.

The ever popular Cloggies range has been updated with two new additions. The standard EVA Cloggies are now available in an attractive Navy Daisy pattern, as well as the green and navy, whilst retaining the comfortable, cushioned, design. These injection moulded clogs are great for ‘keeping by the back door’ and slipping on to pop into the garden or to take the bins out

The Furry Cloggies have the same supple, lightweight and contoured design of the EVA cloggies, with the added benefit of a cosy fleece lining for extra warmth and comfort. The outside is waterproof with a slip resistant sole and comes in either a Navy Star or Red Pattern design.

The range of Town & Country gloves has also been extended, with the Mastergrip leading the line-up. This unique glove uses patented Microfinish® Technology to provide up to 100% more grip than standard gloves. Originally developed for industry, these gloves provide control, safety, reliability and confidence. As well as the standard version, the glove is available in a variety of different guises to cater specifically for a range of gardeners, whilst providing unparallel grip with each one. The Mastergrip Pro is designed for professionals who use their gloves on a daily basis and demand the ultimate in grip and durability. The Mastergrip Thermal is perfect for winter gardening tasks, as it will keep hands warm in all conditions, whilst the Mastergrip Pattern is attractive and provides security for those with limited strength. Finally, there is a Mastergrip specifically for children; the Mastergrip Little Gardeners, the perfect glove for budding gardeners.

The UK’s most popular gardening glove, the Master Gardener, is now also available in a new design. The Master Gardener Lite has all the benefits of the original – soft, comfortable, providing great flexibility – in a lightweight version.

The Suregrip glove is available in twin packs, in both mens’ and womans’ sizes. Soft and comfortable, with a latex coated palm and finger, the sure grip pattern provides grip in both wet and dry conditions. The fitted wrists keep the dirt out and the breathable back makes gardening for longer more comfortable.

Another design that has been updated is the Ultimax. The new Ultimax, available in green, is hardwearing, comfortable and unequalled in its dexterity, with textured pads for grip and protection. It also has the added benefit of innovative, touch sensitive fingers to enable to use of smart phones without having to remove them – a modern day gardening essential!

The above are just a small selection of the new products to be launched by Town & Country in 2019. Visit stand 7J30-L31 to see all of these, and many more.

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Ipswich Town Prize On Offer

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Ipswich Town Prize On Offer: Entrants to this year’s Suffolk FA Groundsman of the Year competition — sponsored by Ransomes Jacobsen — are being given the opportunity to win a unique prize.

All entrants will go into a draw for the chance to spend a match-day at Portman Road with the Ipswich Town groundstaff.

This money-can’t-buy prize comes courtesy of Ipswich Town head groundsman Ben Connell, who will once again head up the judging panel for the Groundsman of the Year competition.

He said: “We are delighted to offer a local groundsman this unique opportunity to join the groundstaff and be part of the match-day experience at Portman Road.

“The winner will spend time and assist the groundstaff before, during and after the game, finishing off their day by visiting the board room.”

Ipswich-based Ransomes Jacobsen will be sponsoring the competition, which is open to clubs in Suffolk who play at Step 7 and below, for a second season.

The winning groundsman will again receive £200 to be spent on groundscare equipment, with the runner-up and third placed groundsman receiving £100 and £50 respectively.

Entry details are on the Suffolk FA website (www.suffolkfa.com).

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