Alex Brierley - The All England Lawn Tennis Club - Groundstaff and Lead Irrigation

For more than a decade, Alex has applied his technical expertise to his role at the All England Lawn Tennis Club. Now Lead Irrigation Technician, Alex’s journey began at Myerscough College, where he completed his Level 3 in Sports Turf Management.

A placement at Wimbledon during his studies proved pivotal, leading to seasonal roles across four summers before he joined the club full-time in 2014.

Since then, Alex has become a driving force in modernising Wimbledon’s irrigation systems. Taking over a dated and unreliable network, he built the case for a complete overhaul, leading a multi-year phased upgrade across the estate. From rewiring controllers and replacing pipework and sprinklers to introducing advanced water meters and more efficient pump stations, Alex has overseen work that has both improved performance and aligned with the club’s sustainability goals.

His leadership extended to managing upgrades at Wimbledon’s other sites, including Roehampton, where he directed the replacement of 97 sprinklers in-house over a single winter.

Alex works closely with the Estate Development team to ensure new projects integrate robust water management from the start. He also oversees compliance testing for water features on-site and ensures high standards across all works. During The Championships, Alex returns to his roots, line-marking on Courts 2 and 12, managing the groundstaff team on No.1 Court and liaising with officials, broadcasters and umpires to keep play running smoothly.

Collaboration has been another hallmark of his career. Recognising the often-isolated role of irrigation technicians, Alex co-founded a WhatsApp group to connect peers and support one another. This community has become a valuable forum for problem-solving and networking across the industry.

Among his proudest achievements is securing greater recognition for irrigation within the club, shifting perceptions of it from a background function to a vital part of performance and sustainability. Gaining a seat at the table for new developments has ensured irrigation is considered from the outset, dramatically improving outcomes.

Looking ahead, Alex is passionate about raising the profile of irrigation specialists and ensuring future technicians receive the recognition and opportunities they deserve. He hopes to expand the irrigation community he helped establish. His vision is to champion the importance of water in turf management and to inspire the next generation to see irrigation as a respected and rewarding career path.

Alex Brierley is an integral part of our team whose leadership and technical expertise set a high standard across the board. Specialising in irrigation to a very high level, Alex brings a depth of knowledge that not only ensures the performance of our irrigation systems but also plays a vital role in the consistency and quality of our playing surfaces. His progression through the club to a senior position has been marked by commitment, initiative and a clear drive to push both himself and the department forward. Alex is heavily involved in ongoing projects that support the evolution of our practices in the pursuit of excellence. He’s a key figure in ensuring standards are met and often exceeded, guiding others with patience and clarity. His ability to teach and mentor team members helps embed a culture of understanding and pride in what it takes to deliver our surfaces for elite sport. His strength lies not only in technical ability but in how consistently he applies his knowledge with intent and purpose. Alex’s impact is visible daily and his presence raises the level of those around him."

John Entwistle, Head Groundsperson - The All England Lawn Tennis Club