TURF LIFE
. . a view from the dug-out
Following his 25th season in charge, award winning groundsman of Hampshire CCC Nigel Grey will step down later this year reports the Basingstoke Gazette. Nigel is the ECB's current Groundsman of the Year, an accolade he also picked up in 1995 and 1998. He told the local paper, "Being part of the Hampshire Cricket ‘team’ has been a big part of my life for many years for which I am very grateful. The position of Head Groundsman has given me the opportunity and the satisfaction of taking the Ageas Bowl pitches from open fields to Test match standard and to a level of consistency reflected in the Groundsman Award in 2014." Nigel will step back from a day-to-day role but expects to support his successor in any way he can.
The Evening Telegraph is reporting that a greenkeeper is suing a Dundee golf club for a chainsaw injury to his foot, sustained three years ago. A court action has been lodged by James Gowans, 47, who claims to have sliced into his foot whilst cutting wood on the course in December 2011. He says the accident has left him with ongoing pain and likely nerve and ligament damage. The report says he was off work for more than three months when the injury occurred and is now suing for loss of earnings during that period. The case has been raised just before the three year deadline for such cases arises and it is expected that Gowans is claiming for a five-figure sum.
Interesting reading over at The Mountain View Voice, a Palo Alto, California based newspaper, where they report that a local state senator is "pushing to ban artificial turf fields that use rubber from used tyres amid concerns that the fields could be linked to cancer and other illnesses." State Sen. Jerry Hill proposed a bill last month that would prevent cities and school districts from installing artificial turf fields that use granulated chunks of used tyres for the next three years. The bill also proposes that the state conduct a comprehensive study on the health effects of crumb rubber on the people who use the fields, amid reports of increased cases of leukemia and lymphoma among young athletes, as well as prostate, testicular and other cancers.
Lovely picture Tweeted out by FC United of Manchester yesterday which really sums the relationship between clubs and fans in the non-league football scene. Over 100 supporters turned out to clear snow off the pitch in order to make sure their game against Nantwich Town in the EvoStik Premier went ahead.
In the end the effort was certainly worth it, with a 2-1 victory for the home side.
|
