The expertise and dedication of Philip Swan, volunteer groundsman at the Bridge Trust Society’s sports fields in Birmingham, has been recognised by this year’s IOG Industry Awards with Philip collecting the Redexim Charterhouse / Kubota Volunteer Sports Groundsman of the Year Award.
Philip Swan (centre) collects his award from Curtis Allen (left) Redexim Charterhouse’s business development manager, and Andy Southerton, Kubota’s dealer manager, groundscare
The award was presented to Philip by Curtis Allen, Redexim Charterhouse’s business development manager, and Andy Southerton, Kubota’s dealer manager, groundscare, in front of an audience of almost 700 of the UK’s and Europe’s leading groundscare experts at a ceremony which took place during the recent SALTEX.
The Bridge Trust Society’s 7.5-acre sports ground is unique, says Philip, because it is triangular in shape and bounded on all sides by railway lines, with access via a private level crossing.
Philip took over as groundsman seven years ago, with he adds “another equally inexperienced volunteer”. Since then, whenever a member of the club retires, they are recruited to join Philip’s team - which currently numbers six and all with varying levels of experience.
Led by Philip, the team is charged with the upkeep of the right of way and the maintenance of the clubhouse, two pavilions, the score box and a garage, in addition to two football pitches, a cricket square and nets plus two five-a-side training pitches.
A regular programme of mowing, seeding and fertilisation keeps all the playing surfaces in pristine condition, with continual improvement in, for example, the football pitches thanks to regular cutting, chain harrowing and more particularly spring fertilising and seeding, plus autumn fertilisation.
The cricket square has been improved, says Philip, through the use of a softening chemical along with regular scarification, aeration, fertilisation, seeding and the application of loam.
The remainder of the ground is cut twice a week in summer, while the tree lines are trimmed and the 165 trees tended.
One team member is allocated to the cricket square, which is prepped for three games a week on eight tracks. The home club plays on Saturdays and the pitch is hired out on Sundays, plus there are various T20 midweek fixtures.
In winter, the pitches are used by two of the Society’s five teams on Saturdays and the surfaces are rented out to four teams on Sundays.
Organised by the IOG the annual awards highlight the high standards of volunteer and professional groundsmanship, from grassroots to professional stadia level. They are judged by an independent panel on criteria that include effective use of resources, budgetary control, presentation and housekeeping standards, as well as environmental considerations.
