The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Real Madrid ‘steal’ Dundee ideas
TOUR: Groundsman in Scotland hoping to pick up tips to improve playing surface in Spain
Real Madrid’s head groundsman has visited both Dundee football grounds to glean tips on how to improve the hallowed Bernabeu pitch.
The visit took place as part of a Scotland-wide tour of the grounds, organised by Greenock Morton’s groundsman Mark Farrell, with the help of local broadcaster and Courier columnist Jim Spence.
The trip happens to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Dundee United’s famous 2-0 win over Barcelona in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1966.
Rumours circulated that the visit was organised after Madrid learned of the anniversary and United’s 100% record in four games against the Spanish club’s great rivals Barcelona
Real’s head groundsman, Paul Burgess, 38, was coy on the real motive but the Englishman said: “A couple of times a year, I come over and have a look around the grounds to steal some ideas.
“There is a lot to be learned about grounds in other countries and it’s great to spend time with other groundsmen.”
Steve Braddock, Arsenal’s groundsman for the first team’s training pitch, was also in attendance and said the standard of the grounds in Scotland has impressed him.
He added: “I love coming on trips like this because you can learn a lot about how other grounds operate on different budgets and in different conditions.”
The pair will head up as far north as Elgin and Inverness in the coming days on their five-day tour.