Dave Roberts overview

Dave Roberts

Grounds Manager.

Southampton Football Club.

From the time I left school to the time I joined 'The Saints' in 1994 I had been to college twice, worked for two borough councils looking after sports grounds, set up and run a landscape company and then spent seven years with a sports ground contractor working on many sports surfaces. The opportunity to become Head Groundsman at the Dell was a great opportunity that I have endeavoured to savour ever since. I now have four full time and two part time staff who are a tremendous asset to the club.

I have now been handed the responsibilities of the new surface at our new home, which has been built to a very high specification. In some respects this presents a whole new learning curve for me as I get to grips with the new conditions, pitch profile and associated stadium problems.

When Dave approached me with his initial idea it just made complete sense, I have always been reliant on phoning other Groundsman for either advice or the answers to my questions. To me, Pitchcare.com is the all encompassing website that enables me to continue my own search for answers but to help so many more with their questions.