Pitchcare Survey – Exclusive
The Pitchcare survey of the Premier League and Nationwide League Groundsmen received outstanding support. More than 50% of the country's top football groundsmen responded, giving us their views on issues such as pitch damage.

The results caused quite a stir, simply because we had the courage to name the clubs which were causing unnecessary damage to football pitches. An article in the Daily Telegraph and an interview with Talk Sport gave the issue national coverage.

In the Premier League Middlesbrough and Liverpool were named as the worst clubs with their extensive pre match warm ups, with Scunthorpe and Oldham taking the ‘honours' in the lower divisions.

Nearly all the groundsmen surveyed had problems with goalkeepers gouging unauthorised marks in the penalty areas (a cautionable offence) yet, not surprisingly, none of them had actually witnessed a yellow card being issued to any offender.

Letters have been sent to the Football Association and the Football League's Playing Surfaces Committee seeking stricter guidelines for pre match warm ups and better supervision of goalkeepers.

Full details of the survey can be viewed in the magazine.

Record Daily Membership
On the day of the Pitchcare interview with Talk Sport we had 42 new members joining the site – a record daily number.

Technical Merit Award in association with Tillers Turf
We are getting ever closer to the announcement of the main £2000 award winner. With only two months remaining, there is still a chance to get your name in the hat. Simply, send us a written response to an industry related topical issue question, and you're in with a chance.

October's topical issue is - "Soil pH can determine the choice of sport played, as turf grass species enjoy differing pH's. Explain how pH tolerance and preference will affect the establishment, growth and recovery of different grasses suitable for use on sports surfaces." You can have a go now before the deadline.

Alternatively, there are the monthly, multiple-choice questions which give you the opportunity of winning a prize with a difference – an aerobatic flight, driving a Chieftan tank, a share in a racehorse, plus dozens more - Check them out.

Industry News

The National Turfgrass Foundation Conference
3-6 November, Southport, UK
One of the must visit events of the year. The NTF have again joined forces with Cranfield University at Silsoe to produce an even bigger event with a greater diversity of topics and speakers. This year's ‘In Pursuit of Excellence' Conference has something for everyone, with internationally renowned agronomists, researchers and educators from the UK, Europe and the USA sharing their vast knowledge and experience.

For further details of the Conference and accommodation contact Martyn Jones on tel. +44 (0)1995 670675 or Louise Clegg on +44 (0)7879 015921 or email NTFoundation@aol.com.

Sportsturf Drainage Day
13 November, Bisham Abbey, UK
Another key date for your diary. Organised by the Land Drainage Contractors Association, this is undoubtedly the industry's best sportsturf drainage event. Attendance qualifies for three BASIS points and three BIGGA credits. Book via Pitchcare before the end of October and you will receive a £10 discount off the normal attendance fee. Click here to book now.

Golf Course Superintendents Association of Ireland
12-13 November, Dublin
The shop window of the Irish grass maintenance industry. Over 80 exhibitors will be on show at the largest event of its kind in the country. Admission is free.For further information contact Tracy Coburn tel (from RoI) 048 406 22655, (from NI and UK) 028 406 22655, or visit www.gcsai.org for a full list of exhibitors.

October Articles

The oldest rocker in groundsmanship, Keith Kent, on how Twickenham coped with the Rolling Stone's concert (and the rescheduled one). Read it here.

Eddie Seaward on the aftermath of the world's most prestigious tennis tournament, and accommodating a film crew for 6 weeks. Read it here.

Hurlingham's Peter Craig with a detailed report on his visit to America and his attendance at John Deere's annual feedback programme. Read it here.

In Tough at Turf Moor, Anthony Hill talks about his progression to Head Groundsman and the work carried out on the Burnley pitch in recent years. Read it here.

Dave Riley from Bridlington on the resurfacing of his cricket square. In the magazine soon.

Jon Chippendale, of British Seed Houses, with a fascinating insight into the creation of grass species. In the magazine soon.

Weather
No complaints so far with the weather this year but, with the onset of winter, things are not going to get any better. Take advantage of the free weather service available on the Pitchcare site, and if you need anything more detailed we have a complete range of professional packages from as little as £25 per month. To view the range of weather services click here.

Be prepared for the rain and surface water by getting one of our Special Offer Bowdrys. The thick foam roller has a 60 litre holding tank and picks up water, dew, liquid mud, or any other floods or spills. Selected by the UK Design Council as a Millennium Product and available to Pitchcare members for only £475 plus vat. More details.

Ultra Plant's display snapped up at Saltex
The Northern Ireland-based topdresser manufacturer left this year's Saltex with a key piece of their stand display missing. Fox Contracts, who are local to them in County Tyrone, bought their Multi Pro 101 multi purpose materials handler.

Originally, the company was looking to buy a bulk Ultra Spreader topdresser and a gravel cart for drainage, until they discovered that the Multi Pro did both and more, with one operator.

Mr. Fox said: "As a contractor, I need machinery that can complete tasks efficiently with minimum disruption to the playing surface."

For further information about the Multi Pro and Ultra Plant's full range of topdressers and spreaders, call 028 8774 7582 in Ireland or for sales in the rest of the UK, call Synergy Products on 01380 828337 or email: ultraplant@aol.com

Aeration Time
Don't be caught out. The hard ground has made aeration almost impossible this year but, with the long overdue change in the weather, it is the ideal opportunity to get on with this important task. It's easy enough if you have your own machinery but, if you don't, Turfcare Contracts might just be the answer.

Machinery for hire supplied with tractor and operator:

• Wiedenmann XP160 deep tine aerator
• Imants Shockwave 1.5m decompactor
• Imants Rotoknife R6

For a free quote, send an email giving your contact details to
turfcare@sportsworldamenity.com

Barter Room
The Barter Room section on the site has now been renamed Used Machinery. In addition, a Used Machinery icon has been added to the quick links at the top of all pages.

Visit the Used Macinery section now

Classified Listing
12 months in the sports turf industry's leading online magazine for only £300. Plus guaranteed publication of your company's press releases (in full); direct link to your own website; listings in the Company Profile and Links sections

Pitchcare will hold the above price for any orders taken during November for Classified listings commencing January 2004.

Book a Classified with Pitchcare – the sports turf industry's leading online magazine.