IOG CEO Geoff Webb recently addressed an IOG Czech Branch conference at the SK Slavia Praha Football Stadium in Prague.


Geoff Webb

The conference featured a programme of informative talks for an audience of 130 delegates including groundsmen from 1st and 2nd league stadiums in the Czech Republic.

Within his address Geoff highlighted the recent activities of the IOG - in particular the newly-updated education system, the ongoing success of the Grounds & Natural Turf Improvement Programme in raising pitch standards at grassroots level and plans for the 2016 SALTEX event as well as the IOG’s new ‘From the Ground Up’ strategy.

Other conference presenters included experts from the Czech turf care industry. The IOG Czech Branch chairman Michal Kotan also presented a plan of action, which included training and education courses, a planned excursion to Spain to visit major stadia and a pitch advisor’s programme for football grounds in 1st and 2nd leagues.

A gala dinner that evening showcased the Czech IOG Awards 2015 for Groundsman of the Year, Best Football Pitch in the First League and a Lifetime chievement. Geoff joined the chairman of the Football Association of the Czech Republic in presenting these awards, which were televised by Czech TV.