Getting Personal with Matt Trickett

Editorin People

Matt Trickett - Should be 'Super' not 'Grounds' man!

Who are you? Matt Trickett, Head Groundsman Twyford School.

Family status? Single

Who's your hero and why? Dave Roberts (Senior Grounds Manager Liverpool FC) who gave me my inspiration and no question was too silly to ask.

What's been the highlight of your career so far? Winning I.O.G. Industry award 'Best public sector outdoor facility of the year 2009'. Being part of the Hampshire groundstaff for the first two test matches ever to be held at the Rose Bowl (Ageas Bowl).

If your younger self saw you now, what would he think? You've found your true vocation, but you should have gone into groundsmanship straight from school!

Which famous people wind you up? Nasser Hussain. I feel he is over critical on wickets without knowing the effort that goes in to producing one. Nobody tries to produce a bad pitch.

What job would you love, other than your own? Very difficult to answer this one as I love my job so much. I guess I'd become a farmer as I also love animals.

What was the most embarrassing moment in your life? I once left a paint pot next to a wicket I was marking out and a ball landed straight in it from the adjacent wicket - what a mess!

What is your favourite film? Top Gun; an 80s classic.

What scares you? Wasps!

What would your autobiography be called…and who would play you in the film? A day in the life of a Groundsman. Tom Cruise.

What is your favourite sport? Football and cricket.

What would you cast into room 101? My mower shed! ha-ha.

Which historical time and place would you most like to visit? 1913 Antarctic. I have an ancestor that sailed on the ship Terra Nova with Captain Scott.

Do you have a lifetime ambition? One day become a Premier League Head Groundsman.

What's your favourite smell? Freshly cut grass.

Which three people, living or dead, would you invite to a dinner party? Stephanie Powers, Lesley Phillips and Peter Regan.

What's the best advice you have ever been given? Be prepared to learn something new every day.

What's your favourite piece of trivia? Sir Hubert Parry was a pupil at Twyford School and wrote the music for Jerusalem (the hymn which was originally penned as a poem by William Blake in 1804). The lyrics were added in 1916 during World War I.

What's your favourite piece of kit? My John Deere tractor and SISIS Quadraplay attachment.

Which three albums would you take to a desert island? A kind of magic - Queen, Slippery When Wet - Bon Jovi and 25 - Adele.

What's the daftest work-related question you have ever been asked? How does adding water make your roller heavier?

What three words best describes yourself? Honest, caring and hard-working.

What is the single most useful thing you could tell a 16-year-old Greenkeeper? Stick at it, adapt what you've got and make it work.

What talent would you like to have? I'd love to be able to paint straight lines! Ha-ha.

What law/legislation would you like to see introduced? I'd just like the authorities to appreciate and understand the impact of removing Merit Turf granules has on groundsmen with lower budgets.


You can read the full Twyford School article HERE

Want the latest news, ideas and exclusive offers direct to your inbox?
Then sign up to our weekly newsletter today.