Groundsweek - 1-7 March 2021

[Rhodes]

I don't know whether anybody has heard of Groundweek whereby the Grounds Management Association (GMA), based in Wolverton and who are a non profit making organisation that support all grounds professionals and volunteers, have organised the inaugural event next week to celebrate and highlight the vital role groundstaff, volunteers and the turf sector play in making sport possible. Here are some details but more to follow over the coming week prior to Groundweek, there will be a webinar on Friday 5 March at 8.00pm covering things such as available funding for the volunteer's sector, understanding budgeting priorities including grounds management and machinery, practical hints and tips to use at your Club, stories and lessons learned during the Covid crisis, how to motivate, inspire and attract the next volunteer and questions. It sounds like something right up Matt Plumb's street at Eynesbury Rovers: 

Grounds Management Association announces the first ever #GroundsWeek | Grounds Management Association (thegma.org.uk)

Registration (gotowebinar.com)

Edited February 22, 2021 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

The last three magazines produced by the Grounds Management Association (GMA):

Grounds Management - February 2021 Preview by thegma.org.uk - issuu

Grounds Management - January 2021 Preview by thegma.org.uk - issuu

Grounds Management - December 2020 Preview by thegma.org.uk - issuu

[Rhodes]

I expect Matt Plumb at Eynesbury Rovers already knows all the tricks of the trade however here's everything you wanted to know about pitch maintenance but were afraid to ask. I've come to realise that there is a lot more to it than meets the eye of just sprinkling some grass seed down in the second week of May, watering it regularly and watching it grow until early July when the pre-season friendlies start:

Pitch Maintenance | Groundsmanship (thegma.org.uk)

Edited February 24, 2021 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

Here we go, everything you wanted to know about Groundsweek next week but were afraid to ask, from the horses mouth, Chairman of the Grounds Management Association Geoff Webb, it sounds like it is going to be a really good and informative event:

Geoff Webb tells us more about GMA's upcoming #GroundsWeek - Turf Business

 

Edited February 26, 2021 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

Cranfield United's very own Bedfordshire FA Groundsman of the Year for 2020 Wes Matthews was featured on the Groundsweek Twitter page and his excellent work highlighted, he also lifted the prestigious National Groundsman of the Year award in 2018 whilst with Elstow Abbey FC. Wes has only been working at Crawley Road for two seasons however it seems like forever as the surface has always been like a billiard table for as long as I can remember, or at least before the Club sadly left the SSML at the end of the 2012/13 campaign, hopefully they will be back next season:

A window of opportunity at Cranfield United FC | Pitchcare

Groundsman of the Year 2020 - Bedfordshire FA

Getting Personal with Wesley Matthews | Pitchcare

team BEDS&LUTON - Wes Matthews of Elstow Abbey FC wins National Groundsman of the Year! (teambedsandluton.co.uk)

Edited March 4, 2021 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

Further to the earlier post, a really nice 'guided tour' of Crawley Road, everyone's favourite ground to visit prior to the Cranfield United sadly leaving the SSML for the Bedfordshire County League:

Edited March 4, 2021 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

On 22/02/2021 at 21:52, Rhodes said:

there will be a webinar on Friday 5 March at 8.00pm covering things such as available funding for the volunteer's sector, understanding budgeting priorities including grounds management and machinery, practical hints and tips to use at your Club, stories and lessons learned during the Covid crisis, how to motivate, inspire and attract the next volunteer and questions

Don't forget the webinar tonight, it should be a good listen:

Registration (gotowebinar.com)

[Rhodes]

I gather Groundsweek was a huge success earlier this month, despite taking place during the lockdown period, and a lot of on-line business was done and ideas swapped. There are some regional webinars taking place this week in relation to grass pitch maintenance, organised by the Football Foundation, and funding opportunities will be discussed: 

Grass Pitch Webinar Registration - Booking - The Football Foundation (achieveservice.com)

Wednesday 24 March - 7pm - 8pm - South & East Berks and Bucks, Guernsey, Jersey, Oxfordshire, Surrey, Sussex, AFA, Army, Kent, London, Middlesex, Navy, RAF, Bedforshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Huntingdonshire, Norfolk, Sussex

Edited March 22, 2021 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

Not Groundsweek but an interesting free on-line Workshop entitled 'Raising Pitch Standards' taking place on Monday 15 November at 7.00pm and all about 'what it says on the tin', namely raising hallowed turf standards. No doubt Eynesbury Rovers Chairman Matt Plumb was first in the queue for a place:

London Region Workshop | Raising Pitch Standards (office.com)

Edited November 9, 2021 by Rhodes