Former Crystal Palace Football Club head groundsman Mark Perrin has been confirmed as Complete Weed Control's newest franchisee.

Mark leaves South East London to begin his new challenge covering the Cheshire Staffordshire and Shropshire areas.

"We are very excited to welcome Mark to Complete Weed Control," commented Ian Graham, managing director of the UK's leading specialist contract service for the eradication of all problem weeds. "Mark brings a wealth of industry knowledge with him and I am sure that not only will his customers appreciate speaking to someone from within the industry but will also be able to learn from his own past experiences as head groundsman at a Premiership football club."

After nine years of seeing Crystal Palace move up the leagues to the Barclays Premiership as the club's head groundsman and overseeing a team of four groundsmen; Mark moves from South East London back to his North West roots, where he was previously head groundsman at Stockport County.

"I see the Complete Weed Control franchise as a great opportunity for not just myself but also my family," said Mark. "With it being a national company, the core of the business is very strong. I did look at other franchise options, but I wanted to stay in the turfcare industry in a business to business environment, rather than domestic lawncare.

"With the CWC business, I will be visiting some of the most prestigious sporting venues in the country - whether they are golf courses, football and rugby facilities or local authority facilities."