The Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) has announced Mark Clemmit as the host of its 2013 National Conference and Industry Awards at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry on 5 December.

Bringing his boundless energy and humour to this role, Mark – known as Clem – will be a real asset to this year’s event.

He is the features reporter on BBC1’s The Football League Show, a regular reporter on Match of the Day Live, presents one of BBC1’s regional Late Kick Off programmes and co-presents BBC Radio’s 5 Live Football League discussion programme.

He replaces the IOG’s regular conference host and TalkSPORT presenter Mark Saggers, who has been called away on TalkSPORT duty to witness the FIFA World Cup 2014 draw in Brazil during the conference period.

This year’s IOG conference will offer delegates a packed educational programme of presentations and debates from regional, national and international experts on sports partnerships, event hosting and some of the key challenges in grounds management.

Keynote speaker, Sport England CEO Jennie Price, will start the day by highlighting the important role that groundsmen play in grassroots sport.

Head of event delivery at the Rugby World Cup 2015 – Gethin Jenkins – will outline the challenges in hosting the multi-venue international tournament in the UK.

Also, Andy Cole, head of stadia services at the STRI, will enlighten delegates on stadia and training ground pitch preparation in the run up to the FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil.  

Alongside examples of pitchcare expertise from award-winning head groundsmen Tottenham Hotspur’s Darren Baldwin, Wimbledon’s Neil Stubley, Jonathan Calderwood from Paris Saint-Germain and Peter Hussey from Stanley Park Sports Ground, a panel of sports turf experts will discuss the rise of synthetic turf and technology and its impact on groundsmanship.

This panel includes turf consultant David Rhodes, Support in Sport’s George Mullen, Alistair Cox from turf tester Labosport, Dr Tim Lodge from Agrostis, and head groundsmen Clive Liddiard at Hampton School and Swansea University’s John Courtney.

Visit www.iogawards.com for details.