Groundsmen take a proactive stance
The ECB groundsman’s annual meeting was different this year, being a two-day event sponsored by SGL, and including an enlightening talk on mental health awareness. Martin Smart covered the event for Turf Business TV.
Everyone got together on the Monday evening for an informal and rewarding dinner where Tom Grafton from SGL Lighting discussed the obvious merits of lighting rigs for the cricket sector with the groundsmen.
Day one consisted of a visit to nearby Villa Park – home of Premier League Aston Villa – where Head Groundsman Karl Prescott and his team hosted the 17 (out of 18 first class groundsmen) for three hours including a close-up look at the pitch in a very relaxed atmosphere. But, at the same time, nobody was in any doubt as to the pressures Karl faces week-in, week-out in preparing a playing surface under constant media scrutiny.
This cross-pollination of ideas from different sectors was greatly appreciated and it was agreed that it would be good to see more of this type of coming-together across the turfcare industry.
On day two the delegates re-convened at Edgbaston, the home of Warwickshire County Cricket Club, hosted by Head Groundsman Gary Barwell. Historically the annual meeting has been to discuss rule changes from the ECB and the subsequent knock-on effect but this year the aim was to be more proactive rather than reactive.
There’s a very knowledgeable group of guys here and it was an idea that originated from the Turf Business Summit – starting early, really working hard to get some ideas across a table and actually make some action points.
Apart from the rules and regulations discussions, the group also focused their combined experience on training and development of staff and mental health awareness – both of which are key areas of discussion at the Turf Business Summit.
Keiron Sparrowhawk from MyCognition gave a highly informative presentation on mental health awareness which was well received, with Gary commenting:
The mental health thing at the moment is massive, and rightly so. I think it just helps everybody going forward in a group that we’re in today – all head groundsmen. All know the same pressures and, actually, if it helps one person out of the 17, well, it was worth inviting Keiron along.
In attendance was Andy McKay, the ECB’s new Head of Pitches and Grounds Advisor, a job he has only recently started, having taken over from the now retired Chris Wood.
Previously Head Groundsman for Sussex CCC at Hove, Andy says the new role is quite a significant change away from getting his hands dirty, which will take some adjustment.
I’m charged with raising the standard of pitches, however I go about that, from grass-roots through to the professional end of the game. It’s a support role, I’m there to advise.
Andy is proud that all but two members of the current staff at Hove will have accessed groundsmanship through apprenticeships, while new Head Groundsman Ben Gibson joined immediately following an apprenticeship at Horsham Cricket Club, one of the Sussex CCC’s out grounds.
It’s something we’re very passionate about and has been really successful for us. And we’ve found some real talent, and there’s a lot of people now going through our apprenticeship programme working in the wider industry.
Without giving any secrets away with regards to the group discussions between the county groundsmen, Andy felt that the experience was invaluable for his new role going forward.
Another elite groundsman who found the ECB meeting informative was Yorkshire CCC’s Andy Fogarty – winner of the ECB 2019 Four Day Award and overall Groundsman of the Year Award for his work at Headingly – who really appreciated the visit to Villa Park.
It was an eye-opener at Villa Park, it was really good, really enjoyed it. Big place, big sports ground, big football ground. Equipment-wise, fantastic – probably a lot more than I’d be using or a lot more I can get hold of.
Andy was particularly impressed with the lighting systems but is aware of the financial restrictions on county grounds as opposed to the mega-rich Premier League clubs but mooted the idea of perhaps sharing a couple of rigs with other clubs.
Are you listening SGL?
Having been in the sport for nearly 40 years, Andy has worked through and worked with a lot of stress.
I won’t say you get used to it. I won’t say you can conquer it because it’s always there in the back of your mind. We speak a lot with the other groundsmen, and we can swap our problems – dealing with stress, so that’s a great help, as well as your family life as well. Try and get as much family life as you can, and yeah, just carry on.
Following the success of The Cricket World Cup held last summer, Andy is looking forward to the new season and sees the new format – The 100 – as great for the game to bring the world’s superstars to Headingley, where four fixtures will be staged.
I think it will be a huge success.
Robin Saxton, the Head Groundsman at Glamorgan CCC, had an unusual route into the turfcare industry.
I was at college doing sports science and physiotherapy when a lecturer who played some seconds in cricket for Essex said he could get me a couple of weeks work experience on the ground. Did that and haven’t really looked back since. Fell in love with it and still doing it to this day.
Having moved to Essex as a youngster, Robin returned the Cardiff in 2013 as a senior groundsman then progressed to interim Head Groundsman at the back end of the 2015 season which was confirmed for the 2016 season.
Robin feels there is a fine line and a balance between being one of the lads one day and the next day you’re suddenly their boss.
But they’re a good bunch of lads, so it fitted in quite well, and we haven’t had – touch wood – any major issues so far.
Traditionally Cardiff has been quite a slow and low pitch and had a reputation for that, something that Robin was keen to change by improving the pitches to change people’s perceptions as well as pitch marks.
The pitches are marked by what were Cricket Liaison Officers – now changing their title to Match Referees – who are given a pitch document by the ECB to criteria that they have to mark to, and then in consultation with the umpires of the match and the two captains, a pitch mark is then formed from that document.
To improve marks Robin now leaves a lot more grass on the one-day pitches which has worked really well and resulted in more entertaining cricket, with the aim being to use the same strategy for the four-day pitches.
We had a good year last year, and Simon and Karl went perfect and have set the bar high, and that’s really where people have got to be now. I think we had 11 or 12 ‘very goods’ throughout the season which is what it’s going to take.
Another head groundsman who has come up through the ranks is Simon Lee at Hampshire, who joined Somerset as a 16-year-old and stayed at Taunton for 20 years – the last 10 as head groundsman – before moving to the Ageas Bowl, taking over from Karl McDermott who moved on to Lord’s.
Simon picked up the ECB Award for one-day pitches for the second year in succession, this time shared with Robin Saxton of Glamorgan. Simon commented:
It’s a good way for the ECB to show that the pitches are good, and hopefully, we can get that out there and show people that, actually, we are producing the goods on the field for the guys to actually play a decent game of cricket. We’re marked right the way through the season, so obviously starting in the spring through to the mid-summer and through to late September into the autumn, so you’re dealing with a lot of different weather conditions. But those marks don’t change, the system doesn’t change, so you’ve got to adapt yourself to those weather conditions to still try and get those good marks.
With the Ageas Bowl now firmly recognised as a regular international ground, with an upcoming ODI against Australia and a T20 versus Pakistan, it’s a fantastic opportunity for Simon to prove himself on the international stage.
We want to play Test cricket again at the Ageas Bowl, so that’s the main reason why I wanted to go there as a groundsman. I want to prepare a Test match pitch, because that’s the ultimate test of a groundsman.
Altogether, a very fruitful few days were had by this highly talented group with the decision to change the format totally vindicated, with host Gary Barwell having the final word:
With Andy McKay and the ECB’s backing this had proved to be a very successful event, and we’ll just continue to work together. If, however, sometimes the ECB can’t be there, I think we’ll still drive it as a group of Head Groundsmen going forward.
Turf Business were thrilled to be invited to the event and embraced the opportunity to relate with these elite professionals who share a lot of the values with the Turf Business Summit.