SPORT PITCHES
Bob’s enthusiasm for aerating and the
use of sand was spurred by a visit by
former Twickenham grass guru Keith
Kent, as part of the RFU’s initiative to
help grassroots clubs. “Keith’s very
informative presentation focused on
aeration and the use of the correct
type of sand (round sand),” reflects
Bob. “Also, the accompanying machine
demonstrations really opened our eyes
to the lack of equipment we had.
“The input of a fellow veteran player,
Martin Maytum, has also been
important to the improvements we’ve
made here. Martin has imparted his
sports field groundscare experience
– he has been in the industry for more
than 30 years, beginning as a 16-yearold
apprentice at Crystal Palace FC
and subsequent spells at Maidstone
United, Kent Police sports ground,
Queens Park Rangers’ training ground
and Kings Hill Sports Park. He is also a
volunteer pitch advisor for the Rugby
Football Union, before recently joining
Rigby Taylor as the technical sales
manager for this area. So, in addition to
our Saturday afternoon chats about the
pitches, I’m sure we’ll be sitting down
for longer conversations.”
Addressing the club’s equipment
situation – with, for instance, a
refurbished drum-type Multitiner
aerator and a Quadraply, which
incorporates a frame to accommodate
various implements including grooming
rake, spiker and slitter – Bob and
his team have gone on to instigate a
concerted maintenance programme
that not only involves Rigby Taylor’s
annual renovations but also includes
amenity supplies from the company
such as the use of the Sports Field
Renovation seed for overseeding (on
the rye grass base sward), Delta Sport
super-maxi granular fertilisers and iGO
line marking machine applying Impact
paint.
Designed for rapid establishment, as
well as showing excellent tolerance
to wear, cold, shade, disease and
drought, for example, Sports Field
“The pitches are renovated
each year (by Rigby
Taylor) with a concerted
programme of deep spiking,
including Earthquaking,
and they have a lot of sand
applied – probably 30
tonnes over each pitch each
year.” Bob comments.
Renovation seed is a mixture of
tetraploid perennial rye (the Tetragreen
cultivars) and perennial ryes Columbine
and Greensky, and is treated with
Germin-8T which contains a speciality
surfactant that is activated when
the seed comes into contact with
rootzone moisture. This provides
effective penetration of water through
the seeds’ outer layer (pericorp)
into the endosperm, by lowering the
surface tension of the surrounding
water molecules. Roots can also
take advantage of the micronised
mycorryhizal fungi that will deliver
long-term plant benefits.
The result is that at the active
germination stage, each emerging
seedling has immediate access
to a highly beneficial package of
targeted nutrients, biostimulants and
micronised mycorrhizal fungi that
together aid early establishment,
improved root mass development and
accelerated leaf extension.
Derived from composted chicken
litter with nitrogen, phosphorus and
potassium from mineral sources, Delta
slow release (over six-eight weeks)
fertilisers promote improved microbial
activity, with the inherent carbon
stimulating the soil microbes. Bob and
team use a hand spreader to apply the
12-4-8 formulation in winter and 8-6-6
in summer.
“I do compare these products with
others but have always found Rigby
Taylor products to be effective and
competitively priced,” Bob comments.
Coupled with a sward height of 30 mm
and a dedicated approach by the team
of volunteers, the pitches hold up well
to their constant use by the 500 or so
club members comprising four senior
men’s teams as well as youth and mini
sections covering age groups from U7s
to U18s: two of the three pitches are in
action every Saturday and Sunday.
“One of the main bugbears is to ensure
spectators actually stand behind the
touchlines,” adds Bob. “People standing
in a concentrated area can often do
more damage than the players!”
36 GroundskeepingJournal.co.uk | Summer 2020