Marshalling his troops - Pitchcare

WELCOME TO
pitchcare
The One Show -
an update
FOLLOWING the Trade discussion on
the 8th March this year, regarding the
‘One Show’, there was a second meeting
between a select committee from the
Trade and the representatives of both
BIGGA and the IOG at the NEC on the
28th July.
Whilst it is a difficult subject, and one
that has been discussed for a good while,
there was a robust and constructive
discussion where progress was made.
The conclusions reached and circulated
by the Chairman (the AEAs Roger Lane
Nott) are as follows:
1. There is a desire for change from
company representatives.
2. There is a need for us all to respond
to the market and evolve not revolve.
3. There are many different reasons why
people go to shows. Amongst these
are: regional/local issues, a day out,
social, business to sell or buy,
education, research, window shop, to
promote.
4. Many companies exhibit because
their competitors do.
5. The customer base is very diverse and
the requirements of any show are
different for each company. Amongst
the customers are: Manufacturers,
Suppliers, Dealers, Distributors,
Architects, Buyers, Specifiers, End
Users, Retail - some national and
some international.
6. Diversity not necessarily a good thing,
but it does work.
7. Companies need to communicate
requirements better.
8. All need to raise profile of industry as
a whole with Government.
9. AEA needs to put these views to the
larger manufacturers.
10. Need to survey exhibitors to establish
customer’s requirements.
It was agreed that the IOG, BIGGA and
the Trade will come together to address
the conclusions of the meeting and
explore the feasibility of a single
landbased industry show with IOG and
BIGGA’s full involvement. The next
meeting has been arranged for
September.
2010 is officially the driest summer in
over sixty years - even the usually moist
north west has suffered hose pipe bans -
summer sports groundsmen have been
struggling with their surfaces - and
water bills, no doubt.
Whilst drought conditions are nothing
new, and our ever resourceful industry
always manages to find solutions, first
class cricket groundsmen have been hit
by another major issue, that of an
increased fixture list.
In their wisdom, the ECB saw fit to load
the Twenty20 fixture list, in the process
doubling the amount of games. This has
resulted in players complaining of fatigue
and dwindling attendance at most
grounds. But, what of the groundstaff?
In this issue you’ll find an article on
Northampton County Cricket Club,
where our editor spent the day with head
groundsman, Paul Marshall, and his
team. Paul’s day began at 7.30am and
finished at 10.30pm - a total of 15 hours.
And, for him, that is happening day in,
day out, throughout the summer. Paul is,
perhaps, fortunate to have a good
number of staff to help him and a decent
selection of machinery.
That’s not the case at Uxbridge CC and
Bournemouth University’s Dean Park
facility - both of which have hosted first
class games this season.
The Uxbridge Festival week, when
Middlesex welcomed Sussex, resulted in
Head Groundsman, Vic Demain, falling
out with the Sussex management over
the state of his pitch. There was, as it
turned out, nothing wrong with how it
played. Comments from Vic’s diary on
the ‘Middlesex Till We Die’ website were
picked up by the national press and, all
of a sudden, he is a ‘celebrity’!
At Dean Park, Head Groundsman, Andy
Dixon, suffered vitriolic comments from
players and managers through 2009 and,
if you read the article, you’ll understand
the reasons why - none of them of Andy’s
making.
Interestingly, the original article was
rather scathing of his employees and his
excessive workload - over 100 hours a
week. Having been given the article for
approval, the university not only toned
down the content, but gave Andy an
assistant, plus the option for additional
work experience staff as and when
required. At least Pitchcare achieved a
good result here.
Cricket groundsmen at first class facilities
are in danger of burn-out - the
authorities need to take their working
conditions and remuneration into
consideration before piling on the extra
workload.
Cheers
Dave Saltman
Say that again!
“And woe betide them if they
don’t mop out the changing
rooms - they have been dragged
out of the pub in the past!”
Peter Edmondson, Butleigh PFA
“The last thing I want is
people giving me their opinions
whilst I’m trying to get on with
my job!”
Andy Dixon, Dean Park
“AMG is the real Millwall of
grass species, no one likes it, but
it doesn’t care!”
David Goodjohn, Green Infrastructure
“We’re not just talking about
growing grass, we’re talking
about ensuring that the surface
is safe for the horses”
Alan Hatherley, Newmarket Racecourses
“They may have very
complicated sex, with many of
them producing sex pheremones
and with many different types
of sex organs”
Steve Nicholls, Sea-Chem Ltd
“Once people find out you are
in financial difficulties, they
don’t want to deal with you”
Mark Perrin, Crystal Palace Football Club
“We are expected to work 12 to
14-hour days for little
financial reward, and that’s
something that just doesn’t
appeal to younger people now”
Vic Demain, Uxbridge Cricket Club
“We have tried many different
methods to combat this problem,
including ultrasound devices
and numerous chemical
concoctions, all harmless to fish
and wildlife but, unfortunately,
also harmless to pond weed!”
Peter Craig, The Hurlingham Club