Pitch perfect: Turfcare excellence at London Stadium

At the end of last season, London Stadium won the prestigious Premier League Grounds Team of the Season accolade for the first time in the venue’s history.

The team, led by Head Groundsman James Williams, was recognised for the meticulous work required to maintain a top-quality pitch. In this Q&A, James discusses the hard work behind the award, the challenges of modern turfcare and the growing recognition of the profession.

With the industry often being undermined, how did it feel for you and the team to win the award?

In an industry that’s often overlooked, winning the Premier League Pitch of the Year was an incredible honour - not just for me, but for the entire team and the London Stadium as a whole.

It marked the first time in the stadium’s history that this award has been achieved, making it a truly historic moment. The recognition boosted morale, validated the countless hours of work behind the scenes, and reaffirmed the importance of what we do.

To be acknowledged at the highest level of our profession gave the team an immense sense of pride. It stands as a testament to the skill, resilience and passion that went into every day of the season.

Do industry awards add value to the job you do? Is there more we can do to showcase turfcare to a wider audience?

Compared to where the industry was ten years ago, turfcare is clearly moving in the right direction. It’s now showcased on more platforms than ever - from SALTEX, BTME, Summits and GroundsFest to the latest turf tech innovations gaining attention across the sector.

Industry awards absolutely add value. They highlight the skill, science and dedication behind pitch care, helping raise awareness and give our profession the credibility it deserves.

Left to right: Alfie Gooch, Jack Barnard, James Williams, Bailee Meadows, Aaron Stevenson.  Plus a mention to Spencer White and George Signal who were also part of the team

It’s encouraging to see a shift in public perception. More people now ask in-depth questions about turf management, rather than the old “What do you do other than cut and mark the pitch?” That’s a testament to the industry’s work in driving standards, education and innovation forward.

There’s still room for growth, but the momentum is building. Awards and recognition play a big part in pushing the profession into the spotlight and attracting the next generation of skilled professionals.

Have there been any challenges you’ve overcome in recent years?

On a personal level, one of the biggest challenges I’ve faced over the past four years is managing four completely different types of pitches:

• Original GrassMaster grow-in – Finalist 22/23
• Hatko Turf lay-and-play – Finalist 23/24
• Hero lay-and-play – Winners 24/25
• Hero renovation – 25/26

Adapting to the unique requirements, maintenance techniques and challenges of each pitch type demanded fast learning and innovation. Despite these challenges, I’ve been a finalist for the Premier League Pitch of the Season with each surface - and proud to have won the award - reflecting the dedication and expertise invested in delivering consistently exceptional playing conditions.

What work did you and the team put in to win the Premier League Grounds Team of the Season?

SEASONAL RENOVATIONS

• Farm-based preparation of the Hero pitch: Months ahead of installation, the new lay-and-play hybrid Hero pitch was grown and managed at a turf farm in Scunthorpe, overseen by Hewitts and County Turf. The pitch was developed under my direct guidance, with:
  • Carefully selected grass seed to meet the stadium’s performance, wear tolerance, and aesthetic standards.
  • A tailored fertiliser programme to promote strong rooting, colour, and density.
  • Daily maintenance including mowing, irrigation, brushing, and monitoring to ensure the pitch met Premier League specifications by harvest.
  • Regular visits to the turf farm throughout the growing period by myself and the rest of the London Stadium’s grounds team to assess progress, fine-tune agronomic decisions, and ensure the surface was developing to the required standard.
• End-of-season rebuilds: Once the final home fixture was completed, the existing surface was stripped. The pitch base was relevelled, cleaned and prepared for immediate reinstallation, ensuring correct levels, firmness and drainage.
• Lay-and-play Hero pitch installation: The farm-grown Hero surface was harvested in reinforced rolls, transported to the stadium and installed with precision. This rapid installation allowed for a high-quality surface to be laid in a very short time frame.
• Post-installation establishment:

Following installation:

• • Bio-stimulants and wetting agents were applied to help the turf manage the stress of transitioning to a new environment.
  •  These inputs supported root establishment, nutrient uptake, and moisture retention during the critical early period.
  • The pitch had to be match-ready within 48 hours to host the Diamond League athletics event, adding additional pressure to the establishment and presentation process.

SKILLED GROUNDSKEEPING TEAM

• Qualified staff: A dedicated team with specialist knowledge in turf science and pitch machinery.
• Matchday operations: Flawless execution of line marking, mowing, and pre/post-match checks.
• Reliability and resilience: Working unsociable hours in all weather conditions to maintain peak surface quality.
• Unified purpose: Every team member shares the same goal, drive, and passion, ensuring excellence at every stage.

IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE MANAGEMENT

• Controlled watering: Soil moisture levels were carefully monitored to promote healthy growth without overwatering.
• Efficient drainage: Sub-surface drainage quickly removed water during heavy rainfall, maintaining playability in all conditions.

MEETING PREMIER LEAGUE STANDARDS

• Pitch ratings: After each home fixture, match officials and Premier League delegates rate the pitch on performance, consistency, and condition.
• Weather resilience: The surface maintains high standards under rain, frost, heat, and heavy fixture schedules.
• Professional standards: The Premier League demands excellence in playability, safety, presentation, and overall maintenance quality.

FOCUS ON PLAYABILITY AND PRESENTATION

• Player performance and safety: A level, firm, and responsive surface supports high-intensity football and reduces injury risk.
• Consistent ball behaviour: True roll, good bounce, and reliable traction are crucial for players and officials.
• Pitch monitoring: Daily data collection of moisture, firmness, and temperature ensures precise manipulation of the surface for optimal performance and recovery.
• Visual excellence: Striping, colour contrast, and sharp lines enhance both stadium and broadcast presentation.

EXPERT MAINTENANCE PRACTICES

• Pitch ratings: After each home fixture, match officials and Premier League delegates rate the pitch on performance, consistency, and condition.
• Weather resilience: The surface maintains high standards under rain, frost, heat, and heavy fixture schedules.
•  Professional standards: The Premier League demands excellence in playability, safety, presentation, and overall maintenance quality.

Recruitment and retention within the industry is a major issue we are seeing across turfcare, how would you tackle this, and do you think awards help to keep staff motivated?

Recruitment and retention remain major challenges. At London Stadium, we’ve taken a proactive approach to widening our reach - not just through traditional channels like this platform and trade publications, but also through colleges, government websites, and broader educational outreach.

Head Groundsman James Williams with the Premier League Grounds Team of the Season award. 

Our most recent apprentice position attracted over 250 applications, showing that when opportunities are made visible, the interest is there - especially among young people eager to enter a professional and rewarding career path.

Awards like the Premier League Pitch of the Year shine a positive light on the industry. They highlight the skill, science and professionalism behind the scenes and give long-overdue recognition to hardworking grounds teams. That visibility and prestige are exactly what’s needed to attract and retain talent - and inspire the next generation to see this not just as a job, but as a career to be proud of.

Is the industry becoming harder? Are turfcare professionals under more pressure to deliver top-quality surfaces?

Yes, the industry is becoming harder. In many ways, we’ve become victims of our own success. As pitch standards across the leagues continue to rise, so do fixture demands and event usage - year on year.

I’m fortunate to work for a company that provides the tools and technology to meet these expectations and trusts my judgment to strike the right balance between maintaining quality and “sweating the asset” without long-term detriment.

That said, it’s not always easy. There are moments I have to remind myself this is a business - and sometimes, I must set aside personal pride as Head Groundsman and make decisions based on what’s best overall, not just for the turf.

Should turfcare professionals in lower league football compare their standards to those in the Premier League?

Having worked in the lower leagues during my early years at Swansea City, I believe turfcare professionals in the EFL shouldn’t compare themselves directly to those in the Premier League.

Every ground across all four divisions faces unique challenges - budget constraints, limited resources, ageing machinery or local climate conditions. These variables massively impact what’s realistically achievable.

What matters most isn’t how a pitch compares to a Premier League surface, but how well it performs within its own context - for the players, the club and the level of football being played. Grounds teams at every level deserve recognition for the pride, professionalism and effort they invest - often against far tougher odds.

You often host concerts and events at the stadium. How does that affect pitch management?

As a stadium that regularly hosts concerts and non-football events, pitch management becomes even more complex and time-sensitive. In these situations, we rely heavily on other departments and contractors to meet their deadlines - because every hour counts, especially when we’re up against the clock for renovations or installations.

As most turf professionals will tell you, timing is everything. If staging is delayed coming down, it delays lifting protective flooring, which then pushes back our window for renovation or lay-and-play installation. That can have a serious knock-on effect - especially when trying to meet tight turnaround times between major events or the start of the new season.

Effective pitch management in a multi-use venue isn’t just about grass care. It’s about logistics, coordination and being ready to act fast and recover quickly - often under huge pressure.