Really turf times for ground staff

FOOTBALL pitches up and down the country have been hit by a double whammy during the pandemic.

Leeds have struggled with their Elland Road surface but the problem has been an issue throughout all four divisions, with Newport County, Birmingham and Peterborough suffering.

Ground staff have also struggled “both mentally and physically” with many put on furlough while numbers have been slashed because of cutbacks.

In addition, more games in a shorter space of time means the turf has less time to recover.

Geoff Webb, CEO of the Grounds Management Association, said: “This year has been really tough. The restrictions placed upon normal working practices, the furloughing of staff, reduced teams and longer hours have impacted not only physically, but mentally as well.

“Combine this with the adverse winter weather we’ve faced and you probably have the perfect storm when it comes to pitch preparation.

“A lot of what is seen and commented on maybe due to overuse. These pitches are like a finely-tuned athlete themselves – they need care, attention and oxygen to breathe and to thrive. If pitches are overused, they can break down.

“The safety of the players is of paramount importance to the many grounds teams.”

The GMA has just had its first annual “Groundsweek” to raise awareness about the issue and a growing skills gap in the sector.

They say 6,000 new ground staff must join within the next five years to maintain levels and also stop the deterioration of pitches for grassroots as well.