Tickets are now available for this year’s Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) Industry Awards, so book now to secure your place at the industry’s biggest celebratory event –  hosted by the BBC’s Dan Walker on Wednesday October 30 at The Vox, located in Resorts World at the Birmingham NEC, on the evening of the first day of the SALTEX exhibition. 

The awards – now in their 11th year – have continually grown in status for acknowledging the achievements of volunteer and professional grounds teams, as well as community clubs and national stadia. They recognise the passion, dedication and challenges faced by grounds staff at clubs of every size and from all corners of the UK.   

BBC sports presenter and BBC Breakfast anchor Dan Walker will bring a new dimension to this year’s event as the 20 award categories are presented.   

He currently hosts BBC One’s Award-winning Football Focus and regularly presents Match of the Day. He has also covered Wimbledon, The Grand National, Royal Ascot, The Derby and the Six Nations, as well as continuing to work on domestic, European and international football. He has also co-hosted Open golf coverage for the last 10 years and was an integral part of the BBC’s Olympic broadcasting team for both London 2012 and Rio 2016. 

To secure your seat – which cost £95 each for IOG members and £190 each for non-members – contact the IOG by email (awards@iog.org) or call 01908 312 511 where you can also gain details of how to become an IOG member. 

It’s not too late to nominate an individual or team for a 2019 Award. Visit: www.iog.org/awards and click the nominate button. This year’s categories include:  

• IOG Toro Most Promising Sports Turf Student 
• IOG Rigby Taylor/Top Green Young Grounds Person
• IOG Volunteer Sports Grounds Team/Individual
• IOG NGB Community/Grassroots Sports Club Grounds Team/Individual 
• IOG AMS Robotics Public Sector Sports Grounds Team 
• IOG Bowling Grounds Team/Individual
  
• IOG SCH Supplies Best Managed Artificial Surface
• IOG Ransomes Environmental and Ecology Strategy 
• IOG Headland Amenity Professional Cricket Grounds Team 
• IOG Cub Cadet Infinicut Professional Tennis Courts Grounds Team 
• IOG John Deere Professional Horse Racing Grounds Team
• IOG Professional Rugby Football League Grounds Team
• IOG Compo Expert Professional Rugby Football Union Grounds Team
• IOG Professional Football Grounds Team 
  For English Leagues 1 & 2, National League, National League North/South, Scottish Championship & Leagues 1 & 2, Ireland & Wales Professional Leagues.  
• IOG SGL Professional Football Grounds Team  

For Premier League, Championship and Scottish Premier League.   

• IOG Redexim Charterhouse/Kubota University/College Grounds Team  
• IOG Growth Products Independent School Grounds Team
• IOG SISGrass International Award 
• IOG Grassmaster Outstanding Achievement Award.
   

There is one additional award for which nominations are not sought: the IOG Ransomes/DLF Alex R Millar Award – to the person chosen as the outstanding winner across all award categories.