GROUNDSKEEPING
Without any experience , apart from that week at Southampton , I just went straight in and started a degree .”
Recognised as one of the leading academies in the country by holding ‘ Category One ’ status in the Premier League ’ s ‘ Elite Player Performance Plan ’, Southampton Football Club are widely renowned for the players they ’ ve platformed . The roll call of graduates who list the Staplewood campus as their alma matter includes three time Southampton Player of the Season , Matt Le Tissier ; Premier League alltime top scorer , Alan Shearer ; England ’ s youngest ever player at 17 years and 75 days old , Theo Walcott ; five time UEFA Champions League Winner , Gareth Bale ; and UEFA Champions League and Premier League winner , Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain .
Something , clearly , is in the waters . It ’ s a culture that permeates . Conrad explains that “ people that were there at that time ” during his week work experience “ have gone on to be at the top of the game ”, listing fort leaders of the industry in Karl Standley – Wembley Stadium Grounds Manager , Andy Gray – St . George ’ s Park Head of Grounds and Estates , and David Roberts – former Liverpool Football Club Grounds Manager .
“ You ’ re on a mower , straightaway . It didn ’ t matter what experience you had . They were keen , they just wanted you out there , getting used to the machines .
“ They weren ’ t scared to put people on , they were just happy to get you going . We were straightaway doing proper things , rather than just collecting things up . That ’ s what I remember , they were very welcoming and made you part of the team .”
A wonderful example of The Wimbledon Way . Our common purpose - together creating joy and extraordinary moments by giving everyone an unforgettable Wimbledon experience - exercised for staff as well .
First week inductions are not the only point of difference with Wimbledon . Conrad confesses that “ the amount of pressure you have working here is extremely high , but it has a lot more relaxed nature about it ”. Comparing to his various experiences in golf , he explains the cat-and-mouse nature of Groundsmanship on a course , rather than a court .
“ You ’ re starting at 6am , and the first golfers are going on as soon as it ’ s light . You ’ re practically being chased by the golfers .
I ’ ll potentially never have that again . As a sports fan , it was amazing , especially with Andy Murray winning . As a Groundsperson , where we had less than a month to get the baselines back to green after The Championships , to see how they did that was amazing .
“ Whereas here , even in the height of summer , we have until 11 o ’ clock . We ’ re a lot more relaxed , we can make sure everything is done right , we ’ re not rushing . Here , you ’ ve got a lot more time for the attention to detail .”
Get this for another first . Conrad ’ s first year with the All England Club , as one of the seasonal staff brought in to support the delivery of The Championships , coincided with London 2012 . The first Olympic grass court tournament since tennis was reintroduced as an Olympic sport , and the first to be held at a Grand Slam venue in the Open era .
“ I ’ ll potentially never have that again . As a sports fan , it was amazing , especially with Andy Murray winning . As a Groundsperson , where we had less than a month to get the baselines back to green after The Championships , to see how they did that was amazing .”
“ I remember it being busy and tough . I did a lot of leaf clearing and collection !” he laughs as he recollects his week with the Saints , “ because I had no experience , there ’ s not much I could really do ”. His first week at Wimbledon , however , was night and day .
GroundskeepingJournal . co . uk | May / June 2024 17