SALTEX
Spotlight on five standout winners Whilst all 35 are deserving, here we introduce five rising stars whose stories already speak to the breadth and depth of the potential in our sector:
Daniel Puicar( Middleton Hall Trust, Head Gardener): Daniel brings creativity and ambition to estate-level grounds care, blending horticultural aesthetics with functional landscape management. His breadth of skills makes him a natural example of how modern grounds management transcends the pitch.
Jack Leather( Liverpool FC, Specialist Groundsperson): Jack is already serving in a highpressure, high-performance environment. His technical rigour and on-the-ground commitment contribute to world-class stadium surfaces, exemplifying the standards we want to celebrate and emulate.
Maritza Martinez( St. Louis CITY SC, Associate Director of Stadium Grounds): Maritza’ s inclusion highlights the global reach of grounds management, showing that leadership and influence are not limited by geography. Her achievements in stadium environments abroad expand the narrative of what young talent can achieve.
David Ridley( Wiltshire County Football Association, Facility Operations Manager): David works behind the scenes across a county-level football network, ensuring that facilities remain functional, safe and sustainable. His role highlights the importance of operational excellence and infrastructure in supporting the game at every level.
Sean Faulkner( Kersten UK Ltd, Sales & Marketing Director): Recognising the role of people working in supply, sales, marketing and consultancy is vital. Sean’ s work demonstrates how young professionals can drive industry improvement, not only through turf management itself but by shaping the supply chain, communication and growth of the sector.
We celebrate each of these individuals, as well as the full 35, because they reaffirm the narrative that grounds management is vibrant, evolving and brimming with potential.
GroundskeepingJournal. co. uk | November / December 2025 7