Getting Personal with Nathan Chapman

Who are you? Nathan Chapman, Head Groundsman at Charlton Athletic.

Family status? Engaged - due to marry my beautiful fiancé, Sharron, on the 16th May in Grenada.

Who's your hero and why? Ian Wright - his background - how he grew up - to score that many goals and come from nowhere is amazing.

What would you change about yourself? Try and become a little bit healthier and save a bit more money!

What's your guilty pleasure? My guilty pleasure is Eastenders. I'm a bit of a fan of soaps.

What's been the highlight of your career so far? Working for the Queen at her Presentation of Colours and becoming head groundsman at Charlton.

If you could be anyone for a day, who would it be and why? Maybe Roman Abramovich - to spend a day in the life of a multi-millionaire. I'd sit in a yacht, spend money and relax.

Do you have any bad habits? Smoking unfortunately.

... or any good ones? I clean my car once a week without fail!

Do you go to bed worrying about the next day's workload? I did last year, but now I don't. Having a new pitch is a massive stress relief.

What are you reading at the moment? I'm reading The History of London at the moment - it's really interesting.

What are your pet peeves? People on a bus playing their music too loud, or speaking on their phones too loud. People walking on the pitch when they are not invited. Away teams warming up in the goalmouths longer than they should … the list could go on!

If you could go anywhere right now, where would it be? The Caribbean - nice and hot.

What's the best part of your job? Waking up in the morning knowing I'm not wallowing in mud, water and knowing that I can just get on, get my equipment out and start my day as I mean to go on.

… and the worst? Divoting on my own - very long and tedious.

Do you have a lifetime ambition? To become a Premier League groundsman.

Who would you choose to spend a romantic evening with? Rihanna - sorry Sharron!

If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do? Sit down with Sharron and make sure that the family side of things is all sorted and then probably buy a house in the Caribbean.

If you were to describe yourself as a musical instrument, what would you be and why? A big bass drum, because I like people to hear me. If you don't listen to your groundsman then your pitch will go into disrepair. You need to be heard as a groundsman.

What's your favourite smell? My fiancé's Jerk Chicken cooking away.

What do you do in your spare time? I'd like to say that I go to the gym, but I don't. I go and watch Arsenal when I can, play golf and football and generally enjoy myself.

What's the daftest work related question you have ever been asked? How many times have you cut the pitch since you've been here?

What's your favourite piece of kit? The Toro ProCore.

What three words would you use to describe yourself? Motivated, funny, joyful.

What talent would you like to have? I'd like to have Rory Mcilroy's talent so I could go and play golf all over the world.

What law/legislation would you like to see introduced? I'd like to see racism wiped out completely. It's not right in any country.