Groundskeeping Journal Issue 2 2020 | страница 18

SPORTS GROUND EQUIPMENT Mark Harrod Ltd Wolves roll out `wheelie good` training goals under twin-site equipment package olverhampton Wanderers FC’s head groundsman Wayne Lumbard is in charge of the club’s turf facilities at an exciting time in Wolves’ history. “Once in the Premiership, we also began upgrading various elements at Molineux to meet higher-level requirements ready for the new season,” he continues. Harrod Ltd for advice. “We’ve enjoyed a longstanding relationship with the company and knew they could deliver a solution tailored to our requirements,” Wayne says. Coming into post in 2005, Wayne has seen the club rise to footballing prominence again as it seeks to secure a permanent place in the game’s top drawer. “Every Premiership club has to conform to set criteria for stadium provision,” Wayne explains. “Goal nets have to be uniform white and grounds teams can only mow match pitches from goal to goal or across their width, for example.” After talking over things with managing director Sean Wallett, the company delivered and installed socketed goalposts, nets and net support posts ready for Wolves’ first home game of the 2018-2019 season, against Everton FC. The match goals had passed their sell- by date and needed replacing, he says, and turned to goals manufacturer Mark The white aluminium powder-coated 24ft x 8ft match goalposts conform fully to home and European league W After promotion to the Premiership, Wolves had to step up its grounds provision, both at its Molineux Stadium and the Sir Jack Hayward academy base and training centre, where major investment in synthetic pitches is now complete. “We gained budget to improve the training ground two years ago,” recalls Wayne, “and have installed three new Desso Grassmaster pitches, including a show pitch intended for U23s training and staging U18s Premier League games. Wayne splits his eight-strong team between the training base (five) and Molineux (three) to ensure the fresh facilities at the Sir Jack Hayward base are tended to the standards required. “ “We’ve enjoyed a longstanding relationship with the company and knew they could deliver a solution tailored to our requirements” 18 GroundskeepingJournal.co.uk | Sept/Oct 2019