New Blades For 'The Blades'
Sheffield United FC’s Bramall Lane stadium is the oldest major league ground in the world and home to the Blades, the nickname associating the team with Sheffield’s steel-making.
The five Allett C34s with turf rakes for removing debris from the pitch after matches.
The club’s Redtooth Academy is responsible for first team training, youth development and has produced England internationals among its many top players. The Academy training facilities in the Sheffield suburb of Shirecliffe comprise four grass pitches together with several smaller goalkeeping areas, warm-up areas, indoor and outdoor synthetic surfaces.
Looking around for replacement mowers for the facility the Head Groundsman, Kel Barrowclough, contacted Tony Dodson at Yorkshire Turf Machinery who suggested a break from their traditional machinery.
Together with Leigh Bowers, Sales Director for Allett Mowers, Tony arranged a demonstration of the Allett C34 mower over a two to three week trial period and Kel was impressed with the results. So much so, knowing that Glen Nortcliffe, Head Groundsman for Sheffield United’s stadium at Bramall Lane, was also in the market for replacement mowers a trial was arranged for him as well.
Kel asked him for his opinion and he said straightaway that he was happy with them. The result was the club took delivery of five machines in March 2014, two for the stadium and three for the training ground.
“What immediately impressed us was the light weight, much lighter than our previous machines,” says Kel. “They are easy to operate and of course the cartridge system with a range of cartridges gives us the versatility to do every job. The cutting blades are producing a great finish.
“Taking five machines we got a really good deal from Tony and Leigh and you can see, although they may be lightweight, these machines are tough and ideal for our work. The club’s new management were happy with the investment in the mowers which is helping us maintain the playing surfaces at both the main ground and the Academy, as part of Sheffield United’s improving position.”
The club is also the first to take new Allett C34 Turf Rakes for each machine for removing debris after games, giving a deeper clean and getting the air through to keep the sward open. The interchangeability of the different cartridges is seen as a major benefit in keeping the turf in good shape.
