Forest Green Rovers win Environmental Award

Forest Green Rovers Football Club, currently riding high in the Blue Square Premier League, won their first trophy of the 2012-2013 season when they received the IOG Environmental Project of the Year Award presented at York Racecourse recently.

Sponsored by Ransomes Jacobsen, the Ipswich-based manufacturer of mowers and fine turf maintenance equipment, the award is presented to the organisation that demonstrates environmental best practice throughout 2012. It acknowledges the high standards achieved by volunteer and professional teams at facilities that range from grass roots through to professional stadia level.

Commenting on Forest Green's winning submission, the IOG Judging Panel stated,"As a result of a complete review that embraced all grounds maintenance routines and pitch development, plans were put in place to improve all appropriate activities at the club. The result includes the fact that the club became the first football club in the world to be accredited under the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme. This was achieved through the use of solar-powered equipment, sustainable line marking, photo voltaic panels, a ground-based solar system and the transition to having a totally organic football pitch where artificial chemicals are avoided. The club now is working towards becoming 100 per cent sustainable and efficient in the way it manages and implements all its operations."

Head groundsman Stewart Ward accepted the award from Gina Putnam, Marketing Manager at the Oscar-style ceremony hosted by talkSPORT radio presenter Mark Saggers at York Racecourse on Thursday, December 6.

Ransomes Jacobsen is a Textron Inc (NYSE: TXT) company. For more information about the company, please visit: www.ransomesjacobsen.com

Image: Stewart Ward receives his award certificate from Gina Putnam, Marketing Manager at Ransomes Jacobsen