Sleepless nights for Torquay United groundsman as heatwave hosepipe ban looms

There's one worried man at Torquay United - and it's not manager Gary Johnson because his injury-hit forward line couldn't hit the net against Oldham Athletic this weekend.

Plainmoor groundsman Julian Gouldthorpe is rightly proud of the reseeded pitch he's produced for the new season, but the heatwave - or the growing prospect of a hosepipe ban - is giving him sleepless nights.

"There doesn't seem to be an end to this weather at the moment - and it's getting hotter," said Gouldthorpe. We don't know what South West Water will say if this carries on, but a ban does hold fears for us."

United will carry on watering, at Plainmoor and at their training ground near Newton Abbot, until they're told otherwise.

Gouldthorpe added: "People say this weather is lovely, but come and work in it. I feel sorry for all the people like council workers in their yellow jackets - they must be baking."

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