World-leading and award-winning groundsmen and women – from amateur clubs to iconic international sporting venues – will offer free sports turf management advice to SALTEX (Sports Amenity & Landscape Trade Exhibition) visitors at Windsor Racecourse this year.

The extensive team of experts at the Institute of Groundsmanship’s (IOG) Ask the Expert advice centre – located at the heart of the SALTEX showground – will include Real Madrid’s Paul Burgess, Wimbledon’s Neil Stubley, Twickenham’s Keith Kent and Rod Heyhoe from Lightcliffe Cricket Club in West Yorkshire, as well as the highly-respected team of IOG Regional Advisors.

Commenting on this unique visitor opportunity, IOG CEO Geoff Webb says: “The IOG Ask the Expert advice centre is a collaboration between the IOG and leading sports turf professionals who will be on hand to offer sports turf management advice and guidance to visitors from a wide range of sports facilities - from volunteers at amateur sports clubs and local authority contractors to top-flight groundscare professionals.

“Alongside these leading groundsmen we’ve also signed up past and present IOG award winners and our very own IOG regional advisors, who will be on hand to offer across-the-board groundscare advice throughout the three-day event.”

The extensive list of world-leading grounds professionals taking part in the Ask the Expert advice service include: Paul Burgess, head groundsman, Real Madrid FC - Darren Baldwin, grounds manager Tottenham Hotspur FC - Jason Booth, head groundsman, Headingley Stadium - Peter Craig, grounds manager, The Hurlingham Club - Keith Kent, head groundsman, Twickenham Stadium - Graham Kimpton, head groundsman, The Queen’s Club - John Ledwidge, head groundsman, Ricoh Arena - Dougie Robertson, head groundsman, West Ham United FC - Tony Stones, head groundsman Wembley - Neil Stubley, head groundsman, All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club (Wimbledon) - Chris Wood, ECB Pitches Consultant.

The IOG award winners will include: Luke Dodge, 2012 Rigby Taylor/Top Green Young Groundsman of the Year - Neil Harvey, 2012 Professional Tennis Groundsman of the Year - Rod Heyhoe, 2012 Volunteer Sports Groundsman of the Year - Mike Hitt, 2012 School, College, University Sports Club Groundsman of the Year - Susan Lawrence, 2012 Sherriff Amenity Most Promising Sportsturf Student of the Year - Andy Spetch, 2010 Volunteer Groundsman of the Year.

IOG Regional Advisors Andy Clarke, Ian Mather-Brewster, Allan Moore and Len Smith will also take part as key IOG ambassadors during the show.

A programme of workshop-style panel debates will complement the advice centre. Workshop themes will include multi-use sports venues and surfaces, ‘doing more for less’ to fit budget, and how to attract young people into industry.

In addition, key National Governing Bodies of Sport will provide first-hand, authoritative advice on funding, facilities development and equipment loan.

More names are constantly being added, says Geoff, so keep checking the SALTEX website for up-to-date Information.