Minimum Kit for sensible maintenance
Good Afternoon Lads
as an untrained volunteer I always feel like I'm on the outside looking in when I read your message board. However I would like to ask a question. What equipment would you lads expect a village sports field to have access to, in order to reasonably keep providing as good a facility as possible? We have a triple mower and a MF 35 tractor, but none of the other tools that you regularly refer to. I'm trying to get them to implement a regular regime of fertilizing etc, but should I look towards buying say a roller, or aeration tool? Even though i've had no training, it has always been my feeling that our pitch needs aeration and a lot more TLC!
Is there a financial figure that the professionals in the industry feel that each football pitch should have spent on it annually? Next year we could be up to about 40 home games, we need to be prepared. TX Pete
14 Jan 2004 by Dave
pitch maintenance
Hi Pete,
I'm encouraged that you've asked the question.
First of all the very basic requirements for the maintenance of a football pitch should be a mower, spiker, fertiliser spreader and marker.
If you have an old Massey tractor and it has turf tyres then the purchase of a tractor mounted spiker/slitter, brush would also be a benefit.
DONT MENTION ROLLERS
You will also require some hand tools, in particular a fork, tape measure, pegs and string lines.
The IOG do provide basic maintenance courses for football and these courses are generally run by Premier and Football League Groundsmen. A day in their company will certainly give you adequate information and practical insight into the basic requirements. Ring Mr Dave Winn on 01908 312511 for details of up coming courses-I think that they cost about £50 for the day, incl. food, certificate and manuals.
The pitches require plenty of TLC, the most of this should come, immediately after games, in the form of replacing divots. By doing this you give the grass a chance to re-establish but you also retain a good level on the playing surface. After that, regular aeration (when conditions allow) would be a big benefit in encouraging surface water to go, and rooting to improve.
Good rooting means a healthier plant, more able to withstand the rigours of winter play.
This is just for starters. Once growth is back with us in the spring, regular mowing will help to thicken the sward, but you need to maintain a reasonable cut on the mower and look at your cutting heights.
There are many, many good articles on this site regarding football maintenance at different times of the year, there is much to learn and once you start you'll never stop.
Keep asking the questions
Thanks Dave
Many thanks Dave, that's a great help, certainly we should try and get 1 or 2 of us on that sort of course. I'll try and implement the things that we can achieve, like everyone else it's all about time and money!! Love this web-site though, you should be proud of it
Pete
Pitch maintenance
Pete
I totally agree with Dave advice on the equipment you would require for you pitch maintenance. I however dont agree with his comment regarding the use of rollers. Icertainly agree that you should never use a heavy roll but the use of a light roller can be a very useful tool and I would surgest that a combined roller/brush [Sissis make a very good tool its called a dual play] would be worth looking into.
15 Jan 2004 by Dave
Rollers
I merely said, 'Don't mention rollers'.
The reason for this, is that people's perception of rollers are based on anything from garden rollers to cricket wicket rollers and god knows I've seen plenty of these examples on my travels! As Groundsmen we roll all the time, all cylinder mowers have adequate rollers for firming the immediate surface and providing presentation. There are lots of implements available in the market place that are adequate, but it is such a big debate about suitable weight/ conditions etc, to explain in a few sentences on here. I used to use tractor mounted rollers and also machines such as the dual and quadraplay's, which when used in the right conditions would produce an excellent finished surface.
However, if aeration and other good cultural practice is put into practice then the need for a stand alone roller would be way down my list.
Since we're on the subject of lists my first purchase would be a 36" cylinder mower.
16 Jan 2004 by PAZ
EQUIPMENT
Peter where you situated? Perhaps you can visit your nearest league club? If you contact the club and ask for the groundsman and arrange a visit with him, I'm sure he would be happy to help you.
rollers
The fact you put ,dont mention rollers in capital letter gave me the inpression that you were totally against the use of roller so I was only pionting out that under the right condition the correct roller is a usful tool and I for one find it a use aid this time of the year[I would add the one I use is on my Sissis Quadraplay]. I would also like to add is that after many years of walking behind my 36 cylinder mower I now have a 3 head ride on cylinder mower which I feels dose a good a job and I feel a lot less tired
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