MOVING ON TO THE NEXT PHASE
Of the pandemic
by TurfPro Editor, Laurence Gale MSC, MBPR
 
Laurence Gale MSC, MBPR

Last week I was privileged to be asked to attend a video conference call organised by TurfPro’s sister publication for the independent professional dealer network, Service Dealer. On the call were a number of fellow industry professionals and dealers, gathered to discuss the current Covid-19 crisis.


We were also joined by representatives of trade associations for the machinery sector BAGMA and the AEA plus also Geoff Webb, CEO of the newly renamed Grounds Management Association, formally the IOG, and Jim Croxton, CEO of the British and International Golf Greenkeeping Association.

 

 

Geoff and Jim gave the dealers on the call an insight into the complexity and complicated picture which both the professional and grassroots sporting sectors are currently facing.

 

I'm afraid it didn’t really come as much of a surprise for the dealers of our commercial grasscare machinery that the assumption this year is that sales of new machinery will be few and far between. There will of course be work for these guys from maintenance and spare parts for existing kit once our sporting facilities get up and running again – but it was explained to the dealers that the budgets just will not be there for much new investment.

 

As I mentioned in previous Covid-19 TurfPro blogs maintenance of sports facilities has generally been kept to essential work only by an absolute skeleton staff of turf professionals. There's of course a mixed picture with some facilities having chosen to furlough more staff than others. Once this industry does get moving again, in whatever format is allowed, even then the thoughts are that sadly, a full roster of staff might not return.


Both Geoff and Jim had nothing but praise for their professional members out in the field. Turf professionals, similar to specialist dealers, have been trying to find safe, effective means of working, with much reduced staffing and less than crystal clear guidelines from government regarding what is permissible and essential.

 



It was felt that some golf clubs who may have been on a knife-edge financially before all of this kicked off, may not emerge on the other side. Or perhaps they may be able to get through whatever good playing months of the summer are left, but then due to lack of any ancillary income from clubhouses and bars, may not be able to continue in the long term. Not good news for those clubs and their members - or indeed the dealerships that serve them.

 

Myself and the guys from Service Dealer would particularly like to thank Jim and Geoff for taking the time to join our call last week. They offered much helpful insight for the dealers who serve our professional turfcare sectors.

 

While on the subject of sports clubs, I recently read a short piece in The Times last Friday that spoke of the concerns facing our turfgrass industry in the coming years in the recruitment and retainment of groundsmen and greenkeepers. They called it a ‘ticking time bomb’ that could jeopardise participation across a range of sports in the coming years.

 

The paper also stated that recent research has shown that the availability of playing surfaces for football, rugby and cricket is being threatened by a looming shortage of skilled groundstaff with a worrying decline of young people wanting to come and work in the industry.

 

The GMA has prompted further concerns that there will not be enough turf pitches of sufficient quality available to meet demand. More than 40% of a workforce of 26,000 professional groundstaff are over the age of 50, while 67% of the 37,000 volunteers who supplement the paid ranks are over 60. Some 20% of groundstaff are expected to retire in the next five years and a skills shortage in pitch preparation will result if younger recruits cannot be found.

 

I have myself, also seen plenty of worrying signs of this in recent years. Many managers are now finding it hard to recruit new blood, Young people do not seem to have the interest, stamina or staying power, along with the fact we are still being labelled as a poor paying industry.

 

 

Data released last year revealed that more than 700 local authority council pitches had been closed since 2010, brought on by the years of government austerity forced on local authorities and councils. These cuts also saw a huge decline in horticulture practices and reduced maintenance regimes.

 

I am hoping that once this lockdown is over and we start getting back to normality, we can then start addressing the problems of recruitment. I personally think that we as a nation have come to recognise the real value of what our public parks, green open spaces and sports club facilities bring to the table in terms of physical and mental wellbeing. I hope the government will also recognise this and then start investing more money and resources into these national treasures that are a key part of our society.

 

We must preserve our community spirit and ensure for the next generations that these vital green spaces and sports fields will be able to serve their needs as it has done ours.

 

Last Friday’s VE celebrations were also a defining moment and reminder of the way our nation came together in time of war - not dissimilar to what we are witnessing today. There is a definite spirit and togetherness, our attitudes have changed and I am sure we will persevere and come through this in a better shape at whatever the cost.


There are so many examples of goodwill and respect being shown for the NHS. I particularly liked Fleet Line Markers’ tribute to the NHS and VE day with their huge Rainbow and Union flag design on Malvern Rugby Club’s first team pitch.

 


It took Iain Courage and three staf, Chris Bridges, Ali Stavert, Adam Derrington plus Ali M on the drone (also roped in painting on Thursday!), two days to complete. Each colour width was 2.5 metres. The distance from one end to the other around the red band was 157 metres! The radius is 50 metres. The height of the numbers 7 and 5 is 6 metres. VE DAY text is about 3.5 metres.


The end result was certainly a showstopper and has been wildly publicised on several social media platforms.


Well done chaps!

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