The Playing Field County Playing Fields Association Magazine

FA Pitch Improvement Service Summer 2012

The FA Facilities & Investment Team has been working in partnership with Institute of Groundmanship (IOG) to develop a Grass Pitch Maintenance service that can be utilised by grass roots football clubs with the simple aim of improving the quality of grass pitches. The key principles behind the service are to provide football clubs with advice/ practical solutions on a number of areas, with the simple aim of improving the club’s playing surface. The Surrey County FA are pleased to be able to offer this to support grass roots football and have secured the services of Dave Roberts, previous Grounds Manager at FC and current Grounds Manager at Charterhouse School. INSERTS To qualify for a visit a club will need to own their site or be responsible for maintenance of the grass pitches. Each site visit includes a pitch assessment looking at site specifics, equipment available, budget and club expertise. There will be a general discussion with club personnel and a report produced with recommendations to improve the playing surface. To express an interest in having a visit, please complete the Expression of Interest Form or for more information contact Caroline McRoyall, The Playing Field 07917 392823. is published quarterly by the Please remember that the Surrey Cricket Board also provide a similar service. Gloucestershire Playing Fields Do not struggle, check your county board’s website. Association for the Surrey County Playing Fields Association 9 Copse Edge, Cranleigh, Surrey, GU6 7DU Tel 01483 275628 Email: [email protected] 2 The Playing Field Summer 2012

The work of the Surrey County From the County Sec’s Desk Playing Fields Association is funded by subscriptions from local Mike Clark, SCPFA Borough Development Officer authorities at county and district When Dr. Mike Clark reached 80, he told level and parish and town councils us that he was taking more time for and other local organisations that himself. After many years he resigned as have received our help. Details Chairman of Sport ; but he are in our Annual Report; we seems to have retained much of his work thank them all. in Guildford. He still swims most

mornings and coaches water polo. Organisations on SCPFA

Advisory Committee This more peaceful life coincided with

Olympic year and the Queen’s Diamond Surrey County Athletic Assoc. Jubilee. Mike, of course, became involved. He is carrying the Olympic Surrey County Football Assoc. Torch through Westcott. He is also Surrey County Lawn Tennis Assoc working hard on the Diamond Jubilee Surrey County Rugby Football and Olympic Legacy. He has been a Union significant member of the team securing playing fields as Queen Surrey Cricket Board Elizabeth ll fields. The picture shows Mike with the groundsman at Surrey Sports Board . We are close to securing 50 QE2 fields in Surrey, 9 of which are in Active Surrey the Borough of Guildford. Surrey Police Mike is a man who has contributed to the quality of life in Guildford for Surrey Community Action many years. Please support him when he runs through Westcott on 20th We are grateful for their support July in the late afternoon. and wise counsel. Nominations invited for Surrey Sports Awards 2012

Athletes, clubs, coaches, volunteers and teams: YOU are invited to Acknowledgements nominate for the 6th annual Surrey Sports Awards 2012. If, between September 2011 and August 2012, you are inspired by a local sports The SCPFA is pleased to person, motivated by a coach or impressed by a volunteer, then this is acknowledge the invaluable your local opportunity to put them forward to win an award. assistance provided by the 2012 is a special year for sport in the UK and Surrey. The Sports Awards following organisations in the will be a chance to celebrate and reward outstanding performances of production and origination of local clubs and athletes as well as recognise Surrey’s extraordinary material for this issue of coaches and volunteers who are the backbone of the sporting legacy The Playing Field: from the London 2012 Games. Each of Surrey’s boroughs and districts GPFA, FIT, RoSPA, IOG, API, RPII, will be taking nominations between now and Sunday 9th September, with SAPCA, PSLG & ISPAL local recognition events planned in the Autumn. All local award winners will go through to county short listing, with the prospect of being The views expressed in The crowned county winner at the prestigious Surrey Sports Awards 2012. Playing Field are not necessarily County winners will then be put forward for other regional and national the views of the Surrey County awards, including the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. PFA Surrey County Playing Fields are once again proudly supporting the Young Volunteer of the Year Award. This award is for a coach, official, The inclusion of any products or administrator or general helper (aged 18 and under as of 31st August services in this newsletter implies 2012) who demonstrates enthusiasm and commitment to a sport or club, no endorsement by SCPFA. makes a tremendous impact on a club or organisation through volunteering and has shows a commitment to personal development, Whilst every care is taken with the team working and supporting the development of other volunteers. content, no responsibility can be To nominate for this, or any of the Awards including Club of the Year and accepted for errors or omissions Coach of the Year, visit www.activesurrey.com . Make 2012 a fantastic made in good faith. sporting year- Nominate today! The Playing Field Summer 2012 23

Director’s Letter

An open letter to all those responsible for sports If the answer to these questions is 'yes' then I would pitches and recreation grounds in Surrey...... urge you to support the Queen Elizabeth ll Challenge and the work of the Surrey County Playing Fields Dear Sir or Madam, Association. This year is the Queen's diamond jubilee year and her designated legacy project for 2012 is to Hello, I hope you can spare a moment to read this achieve a target of 2012 playing fields in Trust note. If you do read it, future generations may be very [nationally] during the jubilee year. What are the grateful that you did. You really might make a downsides to landowners [many of them are local difference. authorities] putting fields into Trust ? If you value I am appealing to EVERYONE - especially the local the protection of outdoor sport [and kick-about areas authorities in Surrey - with an interest in sports for kids] for the local community, then there really grounds and playing pitches, whether they be for aren't any. The landownership or local management football, cricket, rugby or any outdoor recreation doesn't change, the legal fees are paid for and the spaces for both formal or informal use. administrative process is very quick and easy. So, You may have read over the years about the alarming come on, Surrey, if you are interested in the loss of playing pitches to all kinds of development environment, or the social and health and fitness throughout the country. The National Playing Fields benefits they bring, then this really is the year of all Association [now known as Fields in Trust] was set up years for protecting playing fields and outdoor in 1925 to safeguard playing pitches for the retention recreation. You CAN make a difference. It is also a of outdoor sporting opportunities. Surrey was very huge sporting legacy initiative in support of the other quick off the mark and the Surrey County Playing great showpiece event happening this year - the Fields Association was established in 1927. Since then, London Olympic and Paralympic Games. it has actively been trying to protect valuable outdoor I think that I can safely say that I write to urge you for recreational spaces for local communities in this your help and support on behalf of Her Majesty the county. Queen and all those [and there are many in this Might I be so bold as to ask you two questions ? county] who are passionate about retaining outdoor 1] Do you think that amenities for outdoor sport places for sport and recreation for future generations. and recreation are important for local Spread the word. Please place your Fields in Trust. communities? 2] Do you think that putting playing fields and Yours faithfully, outdoor spaces into Trust might be a good thing David Gill, to protect them for future generations ? Director, SCPFA

Jubilee Wood—Tadworth Horley Recreation Ground 24 The Playing Field Summer 2012 SCPFA Contacts

We have a contact for each council area in Surrey. We have one officer who looks after county wide projects; he can also put you in touch with the officer who is appropriate for your request. The details are shown below. County Development Officer Dr Robin Elsdon-Dew, Tel: 01737 812781, email: [email protected] Borough Development Officers Elmbridge Dr Robin Elsdon-Dew, Tel: 01737 812781, email: [email protected] Epsom & Ewell Mr William Eve, Tel: 01372 725310, email: [email protected] Guildford Dr Mike Clark, Tel: 01483 574024, email: [email protected] Mr Philip Sears, Tel: 01306 885371, email: [email protected] Reigate & Banstead Mr Jack Ball, Tel: 01737 353778, email: [email protected] Runnymede Mr Keith Heal, Tel: 01784 435423, email: [email protected] Spelthorne Mrs Shirley Winson, email: [email protected] VACANT please contact Dr. Robin Elsdon-Dew Tandridge Mr Denham Earl, Tel: 020 8660 6621, email: [email protected] Waverley - Eastern Mr Martin Maybrey, Tel: 01483 893209, email: [email protected] Waverley - Western Mr Brian Greig, Tel: 01252 793762, email: [email protected] Mr Alwyn Bowen, Tel: 01483 828907, email: [email protected] Other Officers you may need to contact are: Director Mr David Gill, Tel: 07798 667662, email: [email protected] Honorary Planning Officer Paul Garber Dip TP, Dairy House, The Street, Capel, Dorking, Surrey RH5 5ER Tel: 01306 711015 email: [email protected]

Children’s Play Provision, Inspection and Safety Advisor Mr Jean Wenger MIEW RPIIAM , 50 Hurst Park Road, Twyford, RG10 0EY Tel. 07970 764 804 email: [email protected] Olympian hopes Surrey’s communities can be inspired by the Games With excitement building for the biggest sporting event ever to be held in the UK, the recent launch of Community Games provides a great way for communities across Surrey to come together to stage their own local event and feel part of the London 2012 Olympics. Community Games are run by, and for, local communities (a street, estate, faith group, school, residents association, business, village or simply groups of like -minded people), getting to know each other better through organising and taking part in their own local sporting and cultural event. “Community Games has achieved great success in the West Midlands over the last 3 years and it is now being rolled out across ”, explained programme ambassador and former Olympic athlete, David Moorcroft OBE. “With events already being planned in Surrey’s towns and villages including Godalming, Farnham, Staines and Redhill, why not help get your community inspired?” Local groups can access the Community Games toolkit containing a wealth of valuable information and tips for organising an event (large or small) plus a range of other free resources including t-shirts, bunting, bespoke posters and postcards and £200 start-up grants. Free training is also available to help volunteers to organise and market a successful event. Campbell Livingston, Director at Active Surrey (who are overseeing the county’s programme with the Reigate and Redhill YMCA) said, “A key aim is to give local people the confidence and skills to organise events in their communities, leaving a legacy far beyond the end of 2012”. Surrey’s Community Games Coordinator, Katie Gatt added, “The support we can offer will allow anyone who wants to organise an event, or enhance an existing one, to get their friends, family and neighbours involved and more active whilst having fun this summer”. Support and advice can be obtained by emailing [email protected] or telephoning 01737 779979 or visiting www.communitygames.org.uk .

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