In the Eye of the Storm

Storm Babet swept through the UK last week causing damage and destruction along its way. We spoke to Head Groundsman, Adam Lawrence from Altrincham Football Club about how the weather can affect those working in grounds management.

The pitch before and after Storm Babet

What are the challenges for teams in the football league when the rain is as torrential as the last week or so?

There are a few different areas of concern and challenges when it comes to torrential rain. The main target is to reduce water levels on the pitch and get the game on. We also must factor in the safety of all the players, officials and fans. We do not want areas in which people could slip or fall and badly injure themselves.

When a game is called off, what affect does this have on you psychologically?

It can really affect you mentally! You have worked hard on the pitch, doing everything in your power to ensure the game goes ahead, but then the decision comes to call it off. My first thoughts are of devastation and wondering whether there was something I could have done to change the outcome. Then comes social media - I try to avoid it or limit my use when we have had a game called off, purely because I don't like to see the disappointment of a fan who wanted the game to go ahead.

What kind of long term damage does the turf suffer from extreme weather?

If the game goes ahead, but the weather has been, or is still very wet, there is a big risk of the pitch cutting up badly and loss of grass coverage will occur - taking a long time to recover particularly over winter months. You can also cause the stability of your playing field to get progressively worse in which you could see the pitch crumble under foot.

How long would it take to put the damage right?

The repair job is very important to help get your pitch back to a suitable playing surface. It can take (depending on which season you are in) a couple weeks to put right. Divoting is key to this followed by aeration to release compaction in the ground. If the budget allows, I will then seed and fertilise the area and put a germination sheet over for a week - or as long as you can do.

In terms of budget, typically a club like Altrincham doesn't have the same as a premier league and championship club. Can you tell me about some of the challenges you face?

In non-league, and sometimes even in the football league, some clubs simply can't afford to have preventions in place for extreme wet weather. Things such as undersoil heating, frost covers, rain covers and heating fans cost way too much for some clubs. The pitch construction is also a major factor when dealing with wet weather; drains, sand, gravel or even fibresand is so benficial, but also very expensive - which smaller budgeted teams cannot afford.

When a match is postponed due to poor weather conditions, are the club supportive towards the ground staff?

On a personal level the club is amazing with support for the ground staff and understanding that you can't beat mother nature sometimes. They see you working hard to get the game on and always offer to help anyway they can. The only thing I think that clubs should adopt regarding support is to check on the ground staff - asking if they need to talk or offer any help after a game has been called off, because mentally they could be fragile.

Often, when a game is called off due to reasons that you can't manage, there can be some backlash from fans. How do you deal with this?

Fans have every right to feel disappointed that the game is called off and vent their anger, but what they need to understand is that the club and ground staff have tried absolutely everything within their capabilities to avoid a postponed game. Sometimes things happen that are out of our control and fans don't know what has happened - but it doesn't stop them having an opinion. When I see them face to face, I try to explain that I tried everything and the reasons.