Grounds for great pride as Simon moves on to fresh pastures

BURTON Albion’s award-winning head groundsman, Simon Marshall, signed off after Tuesday night’s 2-2 draw at home to Oxford United.

After overseeing 306 matches since joining the club for the 2008-09 season, Marshall has a new role with Sheffield-based company Premier Pitches.

He has handed over the reins at the Pirelli Stadium to his assistant, Stan Wallis.

Marshall was named Professional Football Groundsman of the Year in 2009-10, the Brewers’ first season in the Football League, beating much bigger clubs with more resources.

He has made sure games have gone ahead in the most challenging weather conditions, when many other clubs have called theirs off, and believes he has lost only three games in that time.

“I have loved it,” he said.

“It has been a great experience and the whole journey has been amazing for me and the football club in the last 12 years.

“I think the pitch is now in even better shape than when I won the award. I would like to have won something with Stan but I think either this year or next he could go on to win an award as well.

“The weather has always been the biggest problem, especially in the early days when there were fewer people around and just the logistics of moving covers around was enormous.

“Planning for extremes of weather was always the biggest challenge.

“We have improved the drainage greatly on the pitch and it has coped with a very wet year this year.”

Marshall did not arrive at Burton as a fan but admits he became one and rates the away game against Doncaster Rovers, when the Brewers secured promotion to the Championship, as his favourite moment.

“I’m not an emotional person but I was crying that day with Stan,” he said.

“One of my favourite goals was when Michael Kightly lobbed the keeper against Norwich. There are so many great moments and the club have achieved so much in my time here.

“The key difference for me over the years was getting a qualified groundsman in Stan to support me. He has made a massive difference. His dedication and motivation has had a massive impact.

“I’ve already said that it is going to be hard not to care about the pitch even when I have moved on. It will be nice to just come back to games and not have to worry about things - although Stan might have a fork ready for me!

“When I started here, I knew very little about Burton Albion. Now it’s a big part of me. I can’t explain it but I will support the club forever now.”

Wallis knows he has big boots to fill.

“Simon is a great leader and has been a great friend to me,” he said.

“When I first came, I had a little bit of experience but it’s alright having a degree, you have to go out and do the job, so I learned all the practical skills and knowledge I needed from Simon in order to be in a position to replace him and carry on his good work.

“He’s managed the team brilliantly and we have seen the pitch go from strength to strength.

“The standards have risen 10-fold because of the work Simon has put in behind the scenes.

“Hopefully, I can take it on and demonstrate what I can do and make sure it’s good as it is now, if not better, as we are always looking to improve.”

Wallis has an apprentice, Josh Nixon, to help him.

Brewers chairman Ben Robinson said: “I want to thank Simon for his hard work and dedication over the last 12 years. So many people have commented on how good the pitch is and what a great job Simon and his team have done.

“He has made a massive impact during that time as a key member of staff here at the Pirelli Stadium.

“We all wish him well in his new role as Stan takes over and continues all that great work.”