3-in-1: Needle tine - Pitchcare

Wembley
appointment
announced
As we went to press, we were
notified of the appointment of one
of the most high profile positions
in the UK - the Head Grounds
Manager of the new Wembley
Stadium:-
Wembley Stadium is delighted to
announce the appointment of
Steve Welch as head grounds
manager.
Steve is currently head grounds
manager at Nottingham Forest’s
City ground. He was chosen from
over 50 applicants and is due to
start work at Wembley at the
beginning of October this year.
Steve will head up the grounds
management team and will be
ultimately responsible for keeping
the Wembley Stadium turf in mint
condition for the Stadium’s
prestigious line-up of events
including The FA Cup Final, home
Senior England Internationals and
the Rugby League Challenge Cup
Final.
His expertise was formally
recognised in 2002 when he was
named Professional Football Club
Groundsman of the Year. Steve has
vast experience of preparing
pitches for music events which will
be an important part of the job
when major concerts return to
Wembley Stadium next year.
Steve Welch said: “When I saw
the job at Wembley advertised, I
just knew I had to apply. Working
at the national stadium is a once
in a lifetime opportunity and I am
thrilled that I have been chosen to
take on the prestigious role of
ensuring that the new Wembley
Stadium’s playing surface is as
good, if not better than its famous
predecessor. I can’t wait to get
FOR a new series to be broadcast next year,
the BBC Natural History Unit are looking for
examples of community sports areas
working for nature and wildlife.
In particular they are looking for sports
grounds and arenas where wildlife is
encouraged or is in abundance. It could be
a training ground, a sports facility in a park
or a main stadium.
Do you know of a football club who put
bird boxes on their stadiums to encourage
wildlife? Is there a rugby ground which is
started.”
Peter Swordy, head of HR at
Wembley National Stadium
Limited, said: “We received a high
number of quality applications for
this position, making the decision
a difficult one. However, Steve’s
excellent track record and breadth
of experience in maintaining world
class pitches together with his
managerial skills clinched it and
we were delighted when he
accepted our offer.”
The new Wembley will be the
most exciting stadium in the world
and the playing surface will be its
centre piece. The turf is currently
being grown off-site and is being
maintained to the highest
standards before its transfer to
north-west London at the start
of next year. The new pitch will
use the latest technology that
has been tried and tested to
produce a top quality playing
surface for the new ‘Venue of
Legends’.
Pitchcare would like to offer
Steve our sincere congratulations
and wish him and his team every
success.
BBC Springwatch Live
OBITUARY
Ray Potter
regularly visited by foxes? Does someone
keep a record of the wildlife living in and
around the facility?
We would love to hear of any examples
where a sports ground or its surroundings
have been made wildlife or environmentally
friendly.
If you have any examples, and would be
interested in appearing in the series, please
send some information on the facility and
your details to john@pitchcare.com.
RAY POTTER,
Sales Manager
for Lloyds
(Letchworth)
Ltd, died
suddenly from a
heart attack,
whilst on holiday
in the West
Country with his
family .
Ray was well
known, and well
liked, in the
industry having worked alongside Managing
Director Clive Nottingham for the past ten
years.
Previously Ray had enjoyed a distinguished
career as a professional footballer. He joined
Beckenham Town as a youth player in 1951. He
then joined the ground staff of Crystal Palace
on leaving school at the age of 15. His
performances for Palace juniors marked him as
a player with a future. In 1959 Ray was
transferred from Crystal Palace to First Division
side West Bromwich Albion.
Ray went on to play over 220 First Division
games for West Brom, against some of the
greatest players of all time, while West Brom’s
line up at the time included Don Howe, Bobby
Robson, Jeff Astle and Ronnie Allen. Ray also
played in the first ever League Cup Final which
the ‘Baggies’ won 5-3 against West Ham.
Clive Nottingham said “ Ray had worked in the
turfcare industry for many years. He had a
lovely personality and was liked by everybody
he came in
contact with. He
will be a great
loss. Not only
was Ray a
superb
colleague but a
wonderful friend
to all that
worked with
him. He will be
sadly missed.”
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