SUFFOLK FA and the Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) are holding a free Grass Football Pitch Management Evening.

The event, which will be supported by Will Parker (above centre) of Parker’s Pitches Sports Turf Management Services, is taking place at Stowmarket Town Football Club on Monday, November 11th 2019.

The Groundsman Winter Workshop will start at 6.30pm and run until 9pm and light refreshments will be provided.

The event will be used to provide more details on a new funding stream due to be released by the Football Foundation in November, which will support grass pitch revenue works for clubs’ pitches.

The workshop is open to grassroots football groundsmen, club chairmen and secretaries, and aims to help give an insight on what is required to maintain football pitches and the challenges that their ground-staff face during the season.

The specialised topic for the evening is aimed around the importance of aeration on pitches and the impact of Pest & Diseases and how best to deal with these issues in the current climate and will be delivered by Phil Jeggo (above left) from the Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG).

Other topics to be covered on the evening will include:

• Aeration
• Pre- match preparation/Post Match Repairs
• In – Season Pitch Maintenance
• Pest & Diseases
• Fertilisers

Jodie Allard, Football Development Manager at Suffolk FA, said: “These workshops have been really well attended and valued by our network of groundsmen and club officials across the county in the past and we are really pleased to be delivering another bespoke event again this November.

“The workshop is linked to the FA’s Pitch Improvement Programme led by our Regional IOG Pitch Adviser Phil Jeggo and will give clubs the opportunity to learn more about new online support systems which have been developed to support grounds-teams across the country.

“We are also very excited to announce that this workshop will also provide clubs with a first glance at new funding from the Football Foundation which will aim to support grass pitch revenue works at club-maintained sites.

“We hope to support clubs utilise this funding to support grass pitch improvements within Suffolk and therefore encourage any clubs who maintain their grass pitches to come along to hear about how they can access further financial support.

“We are extremely grateful to Stowmarket Town FC and to Will from Parkers Pitches for supporting the event and allowing us host the evening at their ground.”

The session will involve some indoor discussion / presentations and then some outdoor practical elements, in addition to question and answer time with Will and Phil. Please come dressed appropriately for the weather conditions.

To register for the event, please contact Jodie Allard, Football Development Manager at Suffolk FA via email Jodie.Allard@suffolkfa.com or by calling her on 01449 616606 or 07432 735961.