Top notch for operator health

Quality of cut has been paramount to operations at FC with the Cub Cadet mower winning praise for its positive pitch performance.

While mowing appears simple in its and shred grass blades rather than cut it being trapped between the application, it can have either positive them cleanly, increasing the plants bedknife and reel. An aggressive cut or negative consequences for plant vulnerability to disease. A dull cut can also means a shorter cut as the leaf A“n aggressive cut health depending on mower be caused by a mower that does not blade is lifted “up and back” prior to performance. maintain cut quality for an acceptable shearing. For a less aggressive cut, the also means a Attainment of correct cutting length of time. bedknife is positioned much closer to performance on sports pitches will This may be down to either a the reel. shorter cut as the include, but isn’t limited to, sharpness poorly designed bedknife-reel Frequency of clip (FOC) is the of cut; attitude angle and behind adjustment mechanism; an distance between mower shear points, leaf blade is lifted centre distance (BCD) of the bedknife; imbalanced reel causing premature determined by the number of reel frequency of clip and weight wear; or a poorly designed cutting blades, rotational speed and the ‘up and back’ prior distribution. MTD Specialty Turf unit that “oscillates” during rotation. mowers forward speed. FOC is

Products explores the importance of Attitude angle and behind centre important in ensuring the correct to shearing. For a mowing on plant health and how distance (BCD) are interlinked and an quality is achieved for the specific less aggressive cut, quality of cut has been paramount to improper set-up of these features will height of cut. One should also operations at Watford FC, seeing them not only impact on after-cut consider the leaf’s moisture content – the bedknife is “ crowned the Grounds appearance but can negatively affect a high clip rate on a less rigid leaf can Team of the Year for 2017/18. plant health. The greater the BCD, the cause mulching. The ability to alter positioned much Beginning with sharpness of cut - more aggressive the cut because the FOC is thus advantageous. dull or poorly sharpened mowers tear grass blade will be “dragged” prior to www.cubcadetturf.com closer to the reel.

     TERRAIN AERATION Turf and • 10” drill aeration    Trees • 1m air injection    • 1m soil coring     • Air excavation ONGAR, ESSEX PEARL 01277 890274 Tel: 01449 673783 www.hughpearl.co.uk www.terrainaeration.com [email protected]

www. .co.uk June 2018 21 football A short spell leads to a winning streak

Scott Tingley, head groundsman, at Vicarage Road Stadium Watford FC, has made an award-winning difference to his club’s pitches in a short time at the club with a helping hand from Advanced Grass Solutions.

Scott has been head groundsman at his footsteps and work in products have become something that Since Scott joined Watford FC, he Vicarage Road Stadium and its training groundsmanship!” as a young head groundsman I have inherited a recently turfed stadium ground since February 2016. Since In only a short space of time, Scott been able to rely on. Having faith in pitch halfway through the season and a then he has achieved fantastic results and his team were rewarded for their the people around me and the service training ground that needed for Watford FC’s pitches and met some groundkeeping success, with Scott and they provide enables me to focus on immediate attention. Two years on and early challenges head on, as he says: his team awarded the Premier League producing the best surfaces we can.” his best practice has paid off with the “My main challenges would have to be Grounds Team of the year this season. The bulk of Scott’s knowledge and trophy to prove it, as he concludes: “I assembling a team of people from The award is based on the quality of learning was developed while he now have good pitches at the training scratch whilst getting them to buy into the stadium pitch throughout the worked under Steve Braddock and he ground and the need to purchase a my ways of working and philosophy.” entire season. For Scott personally, it has fostered a results-driven set of tips trophy cabinet at the stadium so I’m Prior to Scott’s current role with was a proud moment: “I had always to maintain his healthy pitches: “I over the moon with our progress as a Watford, his background was football looked at awards in our industry in a believe that clean, healthy, algae-free team. Players have seen the difference orientated, as he explains: “I began in negative way, I believed that the pride pitches are the main priority so I would my team has made and the stadium football in 2004 at Chelsea FC, where I of producing top quality surfaces was promote being brave in regard to pitch is a big focus within the club and was a groundsman at Stamford Bridge reward in itself and that I didn’t need a surface hygiene. Don’t be scared to is something the club are extremely working under Jason Griffin. Myself trophy to be happy with my rake, scarify, verti-cut or aerate but proud of.” and Jason’s assistant Kevin Fowler achievements. However, I feel that this know where to draw the line.” www.advancegrass.com were responsible for the stadium pitch. particular award is justification of just In May, 2009, I joined Steve Braddock’s how far we have come as a team and as team at Arsenal FC where I worked as a a club in such a short period of time senior groundsman at the Training and is an award that I am extremely Centre where we not only maintained proud to have said we have won.” the pitches but gained valuable For Scott, a typical day is enjoyable “I now have good pitches at the training experience through completing our because he is where he wants to be: “I pitch renovations in-house.” wanted a head groundsman role for a ground and the need to purchase a A career in football grounds-keeping long time and I’m now living that every beckoned from an early age, as Scott day and I wouldn’t change a thing.” trophy ca“ binet at the stadium so I’m adds: “My Dad was head groundsman Scott also thanks Advanced Grass over the moon with our progress as a at when I was Solutions (AGS) for their helping hand growing up, so although I wanted to in creating an award-winning pitch, as team. explore a career in graphic design, I he says: “AGS have helped massively. was probably always going to follow in The quality of their service and

22 June 2018 www. .co.uk