Ground team sow seeds
CULTIVATING a career as part of the Cowboys’ family has been a labour of love for 1300SMILES Stadium grounds manager Bruce Fouracre.
Making his way up from his role at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the former Sydneysider has seen it all and as the curtain prepares to come down following tonight’s final ever match, reflected on a journey which began in trying circumstances, before blossoming on the hallowed turf over 11 years.
“I worked at the SCG for 15 years prior, and the job came up here and I wanted a change of lifestyle. It ticked a lot of boxes, and it’s the best thing I’ve ever done,” Mr Fouracre said.
“But I was only here a week or so and they dumped 400 tonne of soil on the ground and then had motocross.
“Within three days it killed the grass; here I was a week into a new job looking after a dead oval and it was like ‘what have I done here’.
“To make it worse it rained that night they had it, and when they took it off it was 37 degrees, which is really hot in Townsville. It smelled like a stable and I was thinking ‘oh no’, but within six weeks, I shaved everything off and in that time I had it fully covered again.”
From those beginnings, Mr Fouracre has placed his stamp on the turf via his signature stripe style approach, which is easily recognisable as he builds “the stage for the actors to perform on”.
Beginning his day at 5.30am, Mr Fouracre and his offsider Adam Mcneill, who the former hand-picked for the role six seasons ago after the latter was his apprentice previously at the SCG, mow, water, paint and push to have everything tip top.
“The two most asked ques