Another very trying weekend for turf professionals across the British Isles with the return of the snowy conditions.

Stories abounded in the media once again of games being postponed, or courses closed - alongside stories of teams of volunteers helping the professionals get pitches cleared and lines exposed in order to get fixtures played.

Weather conditions like these are one of the few times when you find the wider, mainstream media concentrating on stories regarding the turf professional sector. The other times are inevitably when things go wrong. When a sluggish wicket is produced, or a muddy pitch effects the outcome of a game, or greens are too slow or too fast prompting player or fan criticism - these are the times when the media tends to focus on the profession.

Which is why it was so refreshing last week, before all the snow returned, to read a major article in a major newspaper, concentrating on just what incredible talent the UK groundsmanship industry is producing.

Writing the in The Independent last week, Robert Kidd produced a fascinating article, which concentrated on the proliferation of British turf professionals who are currently making quite a splash both in Europe and further afield.

The piece begins by focusing on Northern Irishman, Jonathan Calderwood who is currently plying his trade at Paris Saint-Germain - finding himself headhunted there on the advice of former Liverpool manager Gérard Houllier.

Kidd writes, "As head grounds manager, Ballymena native Calderwood is responsible for PSG’s pitches being among the world’s best. When the club’s new training complex is complete, he will lead a staff of 55 groundsmen overseeing 32 pitches, including the Parc des Princes.

"The reputation that brought PSG calling was earned in 12 award-winning years as Aston Villa’s groundsman. Since his arrival, PSG have complemented their domestic dominance by winning Ligue 1’s best pitch for four consecutive seasons."

The article then goes on to concentrate on some of the many other turf experts with British connections who are currently "cutting it abroad". These include:

• Tony Stones, ex of Wembley, who is currently in charge of Stade de France;
• Paul Burgess who famously left Arsenal for Real Madrid;
• the Anglo-Spanish Dan Gonzalez, who moved from Bournemouth's Vitality Stadium to become head groundsman at Atletico Madrid’s new ground;
• Azerbaijan-based Phil Sharples who is currently setting up the country's first formal qualifications to train a new generation of local groundsmen.
• Dean Gilasbey, from Llanelli in Wales, who has overseen the past two Champions League and Europa League final pitches and also works with Fifa to train aspiring groundsmen in countries including Iran
• and Richard Hayden, an Irish grass consultant who now advises on World Cup final pitches.

It truly makes for impressive reading and should rightly make the UK turfcare industry proud for producing such world-renowned and desired talent.

Also good to see in the article, is the IOG getting a mention with CEO Geoff Webb saying that it's the willingness of UK and Irish groundsmen to embrace advances in technology being one reason why “the rest of the world plays catch up”.

If you haven't already, do make sure you give the article a full read. It really brings home the level of highly skilled professionals which are coming up through the UK and Ireland turf professional ranks.

The last word goes to Jonathan Calderwood, summing up the turf professional's experience. Commenting on the old adage that a footballer is only as good as their last game, he says "I've always said, 'you're only as good as your last pitch'."