M aintaining a top-class playing surface at Easter Road Stadium is no small task, but for Steven Thomas, Head Groundsman at Hibernian Football Club, having the right machinery is making all the difference. One of the latest additions to his maintenance fleet is the Redexim Verti-Rake – a tool he says is already proving invaluable.
SPORTS PITCHES
Hibernian FC Invests in Redexim Verti-Rake to Enhance Pitch Quality
M aintaining a top-class playing surface at Easter Road Stadium is no small task, but for Steven Thomas, Head Groundsman at Hibernian Football Club, having the right machinery is making all the difference. One of the latest additions to his maintenance fleet is the Redexim Verti-Rake – a tool he says is already proving invaluable.
“ We’ ve had the Verti-Rake for a few months now,” Steven explained.“ For us, it was about maintaining the highest standard of turf possible. We were looking for an attachment that could rake the surface, keep our hybrid stitch clean, and clear out organic matter. Having looked at a few options, we felt the Verti-Rake was the best choice. It’ s simple to use, easy to set up, and does exactly what we need.”
The Redexim Verti-Rake is designed for fast and effective thatch removal. Its spring tines work between the grass blades to loosen thatch, while adjustable tine angles allow operators to alter the aggression of the rake. Working depth can also be finetuned for perfect results. As well as helping to clean surfaces, the Verti-Rake can be used to create a seed bed ahead of overseeding.
Steven and his assistant Ronan use the rake regularly.“ We tend to use it after every game,” he said.“ It’ s great for raking out organic matter and keeping the
58 GroundskeepingJournal. co. uk | January / February 2026