Hi everyone. Always watch the forum with interest thanks for all the advice it gives. Anyhow we are a new club that has had a new square laid in Sept 2009 and will be using it in anger April 2010. One problem I can foresee is that whilst good money has been spent on the wicket and outfield drainge lines being laid there has not been much else done to the ourfield. I know it was sand slitted late last year as well. No budget left for a complete reseed. Also pretty undulating, any ideas/ thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Cheers
mark
I am hoping we will be obtaining a second ground behind our club in the new future. I presume you meant April 2011!
I cant see how you can get away with not seeding the outfield. Where did you get your funding from?
was the ECB involved?
Is there already grass of sorts on the outfield?
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
Hi Barry, yes should have said grass on there but nothing special. and yes meant April 2011. Luckily as we are part of a new housing devlopment there was money set aside for pavilion, cricket square and drainage. Parts fo the country park will be used for footy. Also Footbal Foundation coughed a good wedge. Was thinking of trying to scarify the living daylights out of it and overseed where required. Area has been treated for weeds and stuff. Nervious about the uneveness.
Mark
Im no expert on new grounds and looking forward in seeing a contractor generate our second ground. But if you have grass good enough to play football on now, doing what you suggested would I d have thought be good enough depending on what level your team plays at.
Reseeding the whole area would be expensive.
How uneven are you talking about? Will football be played on it?
What will you be using to cut the outfield?
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
Barry, decent Saturday standard in South Northants League. Also have 3 junior sides (u11,13,15). Footy only on the boundary edges but I know someone has been recently to inspect who has cast doubts on it. Just dont any any youngster to have his teeth knocked out in the first seaon at the new place. At the minute there is a contractor doing the whole park with a tow behind thing but looking to get a triple on it in between cuts. On the flip side at least the square looks tip top.
Obviously the square has to be right but the outfield is important.
I would say this, I took over maintaining our outfield some years ago and persuaded the club to replace our old gangers with a Ransome triple. I adopted a regime of cutting twice a week almost rain or shine in season ( and once a month weather permitting in winter to a higher HOC)and that has improved the outfield enormously. It also has helped to flatten the outfield because with the machines weight and my 100 kilos sitting on it, it acts like a roller to a degree as well. I have no boxes on my triple but I think thhat helps the healt of the outfield with the cuttings going back into the ground as it were.
I would suggest , if time allows you do the same on yours and it doesnt conflict with the council/contractors cutting.
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
Thanks Barry much appreciated
Something doesn't add up. You're a new club, but already play at a decent standard and have three junior age groups??
Anyway.
Chain harrows?
Teeth won't be knocked out by gentle undulations.
Lots of harrowing will help reduce sharper undulations.
You may have to invest in some seed and you may also have to organise a club stone pick day. I know two new build cricket fields around here and both still had thin cover and a stoney surface more than two years after construction. Three age groups and at least one senior squad adds up to at least 50 members - so an hour each and you'll stone pick the whole outfield.
And you might need to invest in some fertiliser to get the grass growing.
It sounds like your club has been very lucky to get a spanking new ground - perhaps you need to invest your own cash to improve on the basics provided. Get those juniors to your local supermarket to do some bag packing - they should raise at least £500 in one day, more like £1000 if well organised. A grand will buy lots of seed and fertiliser.
The ciderman rolls
25 Aug 2010 by mwood
Typical attitude of a sports club in this country 'Get those juniors to your local supermarket to do some bag packing - they should raise at least £500 in one day, more like £1000 if well organised.' and then take the money from them and give the senior section power to spend it. How about getting the adults off their arses and getting them to do some fund raising as well. That way you may have £2000 to spend!
How is harrowing going to reduce undulations he is talking about?
Perhaps Mark is lying Jon and they are not a new club - (sigh)who gives a sh*t, bloke comes on asking for advice and gets attacked!
Perhaps they should send their colts up the chimneys as well to raise a few quid.
What you going to do with a grands worth of seed and no equipment? Sow it by hand over a hectare or whiplash the colts and tether them onto a horse get them to push in it by hand?
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
Your last post should have been put under "this will make you laugh" Barry. Very good.
Brian, now that sounds like a good plan.
Sow it by hand, then the primadonna's that sit winging in the clubhouse might appreciate part what it takes to get then a surface to play on.
Getting the colts to actually help on the ground - now you really are having a laugh.
mwood - who puts all the money behind the bar week after week ? Ain't the junior section at most clubs.
Why not do both - ie have both parts of the clubs doing fundraising. That way you might raise 3K and be able to overseed the whole outfield.
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
Thanks all. To keep your mind at rest Jon we started up from nothing 5 years ago and been ground sharing ever since. With no ground, no players and idea how to run a club we now have 5 different teams (3 juniors) who never used to play at all. 3 have made it into the local representative side but thanks for your concern. The adults have enjoyed success to get 4 promotions so will be in div 1 next season. For anyone else who is interested we have rasied over 30k since we started from funding sources, ranging from 6k to get us started, 4k for 50% of a new Poweroll roller to 4k for a Bola machine. We are just abot to spend big money to buy 2 alletts for the square. Still not bad for a group of enthusiasts. My bid writing services are available for a very reasonable price. Back to the matter in hand if the concensus is that we harrow, fert and overseed then I shall take this away. Thanks again.
Sounds like a plan in the circumstances Mark.
Plastic.... it's The End I tell you... THE END!!!!
keep up the good work Mark
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