GROUNDSKEEPING
QUICK TURN-AROUND – GREAT RESULTS !
Due to Covid-19 sports calendar upheavals , the window to renovate has been incredibly tight for EFL Championship League football clubs this year , but great teamwork and bespoke maintenance programmes by Nottingham Forest FC ’ s grounds team keep the playing surfaces in top-notch condition
Unlike other clubs in the Championship , the playing surfaces at Nottingham Forest ’ s City Ground and the training ground are not identical , so stadium Head Groundsman Ewan Hunter works closely with training ground Head Groundsman Matt Tietjen to ensure youth academy up to first- team players experience the best playing surfaces possible .
According to Ewan , the fibre-sand surfaces at both sites are in great condition , and that ’ s due to Rigby Taylor products .
“ The players like the pitches at both venues as they give a slick playing surface ,” he says . “ At the City Ground the surface doesn ’ t bobble and the ball moves around well . My deputy , Jack Farmer , and I take a meter reading with a Clegg hammer if areas of the pitch are harder than others and occasionally struggle with water in the winter months . However , when the weather is on our side , we produce one of the best surfaces in the Championship .” And a sizable collection of pitch , grounds team and groundsman of the year awards from the Grounds Management Association and the STRI is testament to the team ’ s high standards .
Ewan says he ’ s proud that the club ’ s team of four full-time and two apprentice grounds personnel do such a good job with what they currently have to work with . The equipment at the stadium includes G860 Dennis cylinder mowers , a
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