Tell us about your journey into grounds management and how you became a Regional Pitch Advisor?

Pretty much straight from school I joined HMRC and worked in a contact centre helping the public with their income tax queries. I didn’t particularly enjoy working at the tax office, so in my mid-twenties I left and signed up for a BTEC in Sportsturf at Myerscough College and followed that by enrolling onto their degree course in Sportsturf Science and Management. During this time I started working at Lancashire CCC at Emirates Old Trafford, predominantly helping maintain the practice area. I was then offered a role at Manchester City FC where I’d been working on a casual contract, at their then new training ground. Five years later the RPA role for cricket came up, and it felt like a great opportunity for me not only to progress career-wise, but to get back to cricket grounds management (by far the most interesting of all the sports!) and help clubs at community level which is something I was passionate about as a keen volunteer at the rugby and cricket clubs I have been a member of.

What’s the most rewarding part of being an RPA in your region?

Just knowing I’ve played some part in helping a club’s ground get better, or helped to share a bit of knowledge with someone who can use it to make an improvement. Most of the time, the work we do as RPAs is very much in the background, but every now and then I’ll speak to someone who tells me how something I did or was involved with has helped them and that’s hugely rewarding.

Favourite sport? Who’s your team?

It’s tough to say which sport is my favourite, I’m very seasonal about it, and as I’ve got older my tribalism for one club has definitely lessened. In cricket I follow Lancashire but also keep an eye on Derbyshire’s results too. I have two young sons who support different teams in the Hundred, so to keep them happy I will shout for both Manchester Originals and Northern Superchargers, but it’s Manchester for me when the two play each other.

For football I’m a lifelong Manchester City fan and used to go every week with my Dad, but nowadays I’m admittedly an armchair supporter. My kids love going to watch Stockport County, so I have developed a soft spot for them and try to get to Edgely Park a few times a season.

Warrington Wolves are my rugby league team, there’s something wonderful about the eternal optimism that this year is the year, and I look out for Sale Shark’s results in rugby union.

Can you share a standout project or pitch you’ve worked on and why it was memorable?

Rather than it be one pitch, I think the favourite part of my career so far was the culmination of the 2018-2019 season when I was working at City. City won a domestic treble (plus the Community Shield!), the first and so far, only English club to achieve it. To be there at that time and to have played some part by maintaining the training pitches was fantastic. I’ll always remember it, unlike the end of season party!

What’s one piece of advice you always give to grounds teams?

To not be afraid to try something different. If you aren’t happy with how your pitches are playing, then you can’t expect anything to change if you keep the same routines. Try something different, see what happens and keep tweaking and changing until you get the results you want.

What inspired you to pursue a career in grounds management?

When I worked in the tax office, I could see Emirates Old Trafford in the distance and wondered what the groundstaff were up to each day. I knew I didn’t enjoy the job I had sitting in an office all day and I knew I loved sport, so grounds management was an obvious way to get outside and be directly involved with sport.

Who’s been a major influence or mentor in your career?

I don’t think there’s any one stand-out individual who has influenced me. I have been very fortunate to meet and work with some fantastic people who have all taught me something along the way. That continues at the GMA, both with my colleagues and the people I meet who pour their heart and soul into caring for club grounds to create somewhere for their communities to enjoy, play sport and come together.

What’s one skill every good groundsperson should have?

Resilience. There are so many variables that will impact what we’re trying to achieve that we have to be resilient and able to adapt to meet the challenges.

If you weren’t working in turf, what career could you see yourself in?

I honestly don’t know. Probably hope that I’d won the lottery.

Coffee or tea on a cold morning pitch inspection?

A cup of tea is heaven, but I’m a bit of tea snob so if someone else is making it then I’ll have a coffee!

Finish this sentence: “People don’t realise, but grounds management is actually…”

Something anyone can enjoy a role in, at whatever level they want.”