Earning his Spurs - Pitchcare

“We have to help
ourselves in this
industry, if we don’t
work together, we’ll be
all the poorer for it”
were largely just functional and not so
highly developed.”
The new facility, due to be opened for
the 2012 season, will feature a mix of
sand based, Desso and Fibrelastic pitches
for the first, reserve and academy teams.
No fewer than twenty-three staff will
work permanently on site, including a
mechanic, irrigation engineer, secretary,
head groundsman, and head gardener.
A real green dimension permeates the
project, with a recycling plant,
Waste2Water washpad facility, two
236,000 irrigation tanks fed by two newly
drilled boreholes, as well as a
conservation area and a large
programme of new plantings aimed to
create a grand ‘manor house’ style
entrance.
An attenuation lake will hold water
ready for outflow at the rate designated
by the Environment Agency, Darren
explains.
Still only 37, Darren is relishing the
challenge the new projects bring him,
Who are you? Darren Baldwin, Grounds
Manager, Tottenham Hotspur FC.
Family status? Married to Kelly. Two girls,
Katie 6 and Holly 4.
Who’s your hero and why? My boyhood
hero was Spurs and Arsenal legend Pat
Jennings. I always had aspirations, like most
young lads, of being a professional footballer.
Whilst I was never going to make the grade,
Pat was truly world class.
What is your dream holiday? Gold Coast
Australia, very lucky on this one as my
brother lives there.
adding that a job on
this scale involves
nothing less than a
labour of love. “The
workload does take
its toll and you never stop worrying
about it,” he admits. “We have to
continually adapt and look to new ways
to address issues.”
He still has time to take a keen interest
in groundsmanship at all levels of the
game - he is a judge for the FA awards
for best non-league groundsman - a role
he says is always rewarding. “I find the
story is the same in the non-leagues.
Teams are often working on tight
budgets, with limited machinery, but still
producing high standards - this year
particularly so,” Darren explains.
“Also, I never fail to pick up a few tips
on my travels; they really show how you
can improvise with machinery, allowing
one piece of kit to do a number of jobs.
One of the best examples of this was a
guy that had converted a cylinder mower
to incorporate a brush at the front, which
allowed him to get the maximum cutting
height before mowing - a very clever use
Work continues apace at the
Bulls Cross training ground
What annoys you the most? Negativity in
the industry.
What would you change about yourself?
Lose 4 stone for starters! And a new lower
back. Wear and tear of the job left me with
two prolapsed discs requiring surgery. I now
have two wire cages and 12 titanium screws
holding me upright!
Who wouldn’t you like to be? Easy ... the
Head Groundsman at Wembley!!!
Favourite record, and why? The Lightning
Seeds. Life Of Riley ( work it out !)
Who would you choose to spend a
romantic evening with? Er, the wife ... or
Kirsten Dunst.
If you won the lottery, what is the first
thing you would do? Pay off the mortgages
of my nearest and dearest.
If you were to describe yourself as a
musical instrument, what would you be
and why? The drums. Big and loud.
What’s the best advice you have ever
been given? You may not achieve perfection
but there’s nothing to stop you trying.
of limited equipment.”
Being involved in such projects
highlights, for Darren, just how fortunate
a position he and his team are in, and
he’s passionate about aspects of the
business that he feels need some serious
changes, believing that the industry
continues to be blighted by too many
people who prefer to moan about their
issues rather than do something about
them.
“I help arrange twice yearly grounds
managers’ meetings, with the aim of
getting as many of us together to discuss
our issues, share ideas and brainstorm
different methods.
“In the past, I’ve had calls
after the event from people with
concerns who weren’t willing to
turn up to these events. We have
to help ourselves in this industry,
if we don’t work together, we’ll
be all the poorer for it.”
TWENTYQuestions
Darren Baldwin - looking for positivity, perfection,
a new back and Kirsten Duntz!
What's your favourite smell? Burning
Castrol R oil. If you’ve ever been to Speedway
you will know what I mean.
What do you do in your spare time?
Watch Speedway, race my quad bikes or
spend a day out with my girls.
What’s the daftest work related question
you have ever been asked? What do you
do in the summer?
What’s your favourite piece of kit? Used
to be my Dennis Premier mower, now it’s the
mobile phone and a laptop!
What three words would you use to
describe yourself? Positive, honest and
opinionated.
What talent would you like to have? Be
able to predict the future!
What makes you angry? Bad drivers (and
not the golf ones!).
What law/legislation would you like to
see introduced? Length of prison sentences
being enforced. - If a judge gives you 10
years then you should serve 10 years, not out
in 5 years for good behaviour!