This Volunteers’ Week, we’re recognising the Pembrokeshire-based club for the impact their volunteers have made, supported by the Pitch Advisory Service Wales - a collaborative programme delivered by the Football Association of Wales, Cymru Football Foundation and the Grounds Management Association. 

This Volunteers’ Week, we’re recognising the Pembrokeshire-based club for the impact their volunteers have made, supported by the Pitch Advisory Service Wales - a collaborative programme delivered by the Football Association of Wales, Cymru Football Foundation and the Grounds Management Association.

Through a combination of expert guidance and targeted investment, Fishguard’s volunteers have transformed not just their pitches, but the long-term sustainability of the club itself.

The journey began with a simple funding application.

Initially, Fishguard Sports AFC applied to the Cymru Football Foundation for support to purchase an additional mower. However, as part of the grant process, the club carried out a pitch assessment with the Grounds Management Association.

That assessment proved to be pivotal.

Working with the GMA’s Pitch Advisors, the club identified that different equipment, not a new mower alone, would deliver far greater long-term impact on pitch quality.

With an existing mower already in place, the club instead invested their grant from the Cymru Football Foundation’s Equipment Fund into a tailored set of attachments including a quadraplay, deep slitter and rear roller mower, alongside a replacement fertiliser spreader and new goalposts.

The shift from a single purchase to a joined-up maintenance approach marked a major step forward, and the £24,000 grant made this a reality.

Before receiving support, volunteers were working with ageing and limited equipment that made effective pitch maintenance difficult. A 20-year-old side discharge mower attached to the tractor was in poor condition, while hydraulic issues led to frequent and costly repairs.

Other equipment such as an old agricultural harrow and a borrowed slitter offered limited benefit and, in some cases, created additional problems for players. The introduction of new equipment, combined with advice from the Grounds Management Association, has changed that completely - giving volunteers both the tools and the confidence to implement a consistent maintenance plan for the first time in several years.

Fishguard’s pitches had faced significant challenges since their construction in 2014. A clay-heavy top layer led to persistent issues, including waterlogging during wet conditions and poor grass resilience during dry spells. Despite the introduction of secondary drainage systems between 2019 and 2022, problems remained with standing water frequently forcing cancellations.

While this season has still seen wet conditions, the pitches are draining more quickly and recovering far better after rainfall. Even the smallest pitch, previously the most vulnerable to waterlogging, is showing clear signs of improvement.

The regular use of new equipment has been central to this progress. The quadraplay, in particular, has become a popular and frequently used tool, playing a key role in maintaining surface quality on a weekly basis. More recently, oversowing practices are helping to restore grass coverage and strengthen the playing surface over time, following advice from the Pitch Advisory Service.

At the heart of this transformation is a dedicated group of volunteers. The four-person grounds team primarily carry out the grounds care - all bringing decades of experience in working with agricultural equipment. Their skills have been critical in enabling the club to maximise the benefits of the new machinery. Without them, the club simply wouldn’t be able to maintain its pitches to the same standard.

The improvements at Tregroes come at a time of growth for the club, which now supports nine mini and junior teams alongside two senior sides. To meet increasing demand, Fishguard is also working to bring a historic site - St Mary’s Memorial Field - back into use.

Once the club’s home between 1947 and 2016, the site has recently been designated as a Village Green, protecting it from development and preserving it for community use. While ownership remains with the local church, a collaborative approach will see the club become the main user of the space, working alongside the local community, Fishguard and Goodwick RFC.

Plans are already underway to restore the site from its current condition, with volunteers set to cut, mark and maintain a new 11v11 pitch, as well as accommodate mini football. The same equipment being used at Tregroes will play a key role here, helping to improve pitch quality from the outset.

For Fishguard Sports, the impact of Pitch Advisory Service Wales has ensured that pitches are more playable, more resilient and better suited to the needs of a growing club.