More than 30 grounds staff, volunteers and sports turf professionals from across the county came together on 2 June for the Sussex Grounds Development Day 2026, hosted at Brighton and Hove Albion's training ground, the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre in Lancing.

Delivered collaboratively by Sussex County FA, Brighton & Hove Albion, Plumpton College and the Grounds Management Association (GMA), the event brought together a diverse mix of experience from elite‑level practitioners to dedicated grassroots volunteers, all united by a shared commitment to improving playing surfaces across Sussex.

In the morning session, attendees took part in a carousel of morning workshops designed to offer practical insight into pitch care and renovation.

Brighton & Hove Albion’s Sports Turf team led a detailed renovation workshop, taking groups on a guided tour of pitches at various stages of the renovation cycle. Discussions focused on the methods used within an elite football environment and how these practices can be adapted for grassroots and non‑league settings, where resources and capacity naturally differ.

In the on‑site maintenance workshop, Plumpton College and Albion staff delivered a session on machinery and equipment. Attendees were able to get up close with the tools and technology used to maintain elite‑level surfaces, gaining valuable understanding of maintenance processes and the behind‑the‑scenes work that keeps pitches performing at their best.

Meanwhile, Dan Milgate, Regional Pitch Advisor at the GMA, delivered an in‑depth workshop on pitch testing. He demonstrated how the Football Foundation’s PitchPower web‑app can help clubs assess pitch performance and plan improvements. Dan also shared practical advice on managing renovations during challenging weather conditions - an issue many Sussex clubs have faced throughout the season.

Following lunch, Sussex County FA Facilities and Investment Officer, Tom Saunters, led a session on funding opportunities available to clubs and facility providers. The workshop focused on the Football Foundation’s Grass Pitch Maintenance Fund and how clubs can access support to improve their natural turf pitches.

The day concluded with an open Q&A, giving attendees the chance to seek tailored advice from the workshop delivery team, made up of Brighton and Hove Albion and GMA staff, and discuss how to apply the learning to their own environments.

Andrew Wood, Head of Sports Turf (Training Ground), Brighton & Hove Albion, said: “Working in partnership with the local community has always been the bedrock of everything we do as a football club. The link up with the Sussex County FA and Plumpton College is a really important part of that identity and the collaboration allows us an opportunity to share our experiences with each other and realise that we do all have a common goal. It was a pleasure to open our doors on this occasion and hopefully this will lead to more opportunities in the future.”

Tom Saunters, Facilities and Investment Officer, Sussex FA, added: “We’re delighted to have been able to deliver such a fantastic opportunity to the Sussex Sports Turf community for a second consecutive season, following our collaborative event with Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex in May 2025. The feedback we’ve received following this year’s event has once again been overwhelmingly positive and we’ll certainly be looking to build on these successful events moving forwards.

“The impact of collaborating with Brighton and Hove Albion, Plumpton College and the Grounds Management Association cannot be overstated, and we are so grateful for their expertise and willingness to support our clubs and facility providers. A particular thank you, of course, to Brighton and Hove Albion for opening their doors to benefit Sussex grounds staff once again.”