Darren Symonds has joined the national network of regional pitch advisors for the IOG-led Grounds and Natural Turf Improvement Programme (GNTIP). His role covers the south east region.

Funded by The Football Association, England and Wales Cricket Board, Rugby Football League and Sport England, GNTIP is designed to raise the standards of sports surfaces as well as the understanding of sports turf management practices among those who manage and maintain the thousands of public sports pitches for football, cricket and rugby throughout England and Wales.

Darren – who joins an existing team of eight regional pitch advisors plus the programme’s national manager, Jason Booth – was formerly a groundsman at Oxford University Parks, Marston Sports Grounds and Sir Roger Bannister Running Track from January 2004 to August 2008, before joining the groundscare team at St Albans School.

He has achieved NVQ Level 3 in Amenity Horticulture Sports Turf Management and is currently undertaking the FdSc Sportsturf Distance Learning Degree with Myerscough College.

Commenting on the appointment, GNTIP national manager Jason Booth said, "Darren’s background complements our talented regional pitch advisor team and I have no doubt that he will become an important asset for all of the programme’s stakeholders.”