The Institute of Groundsmanship’s (IOG) ‘Professional Football Groundsman of the Year’ award for 2007 has been won by Darren Baldwin of Tottenham Hotspur FC.
In a closely contested competition, Darren outpipped last year’s winner, John Hayes of Celtic FC, as well as Gary Kemp of Norwich City FC, Ewan Hunter of Nottingham Forest FC and Dave Brown of Hartlepool United FC.

Adjudged using criteria that includes such factors as available resources, presentation and housekeeping standards, technical knowledge and scope of operations, the coveted award was announced at this month’s IOG SALTEX open space management show at Windsor, where Darren was also awarded the FA Premier League Groundsman of the Year award.

Commenting, Darren said: “My thanks to the IOG for this award, which is also an acknowledgement of the efforts of the entire groundscare team at White Hart Lane. It is, of course, an enormous honour for the club.”

Darren joined Spurs in 1996 as head groundsman, after six years at Arsenal FC under the tutorship of Steve Braddock – two whom Darren is full of praise for a comprehensive and professional ‘apprenticeship’. He said: “My thanks to the IOG for this award which is also an enormous honour for the club.

“As everyone in our industry knows, maintaining pitches to a high standard across the stadium and training ground is very much a team operation and we are fortunate in that we have groundstaff of the highest calibre here.

“This award is as much, if not more, a recognition of the team’s abilities and efforts in ensuring our playing squad get to train and play on the best surfaces possible.

“We are always looking to embrace the very latest in pitch technology and the investment the Club has readily made in this respect has certainly paid dividends.” Alex Millar, national chairman of the IOG and chairman of the Groundsman of the Year award judges, commented: “The high standard of groundsmanship throughout the football leagues has again been highlighted by these awards – literally only several points separated the five finalists.

“The IOG strives to ensure that the skill of groundsmen is increasingly recognised on the wider stage, and the consistent achievements of professionals like Darren Baldwin are the benchmark for grounds professionals worldwide.”