Gary Andrew Posted July 23, 2022 Report Share Posted July 23, 2022 Good evening all, I have recently been appointed to look after the grass at Godolphin Atlantic AFC. My back round is 7 years as of Chairman of Greens at Truro Golf Club where I was very hands on and learnt an awful lot. I would love to meet you all and share idea's of groundsman around the County, especially given the recent drought conditions! Kind Regards Gary Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAPPO Posted July 23, 2022 Report Share Posted July 23, 2022 Good luck Gary, if you can get Godolphin Way looking anything like the greens at Truro you’ll have done well mate!! 🤔😁👍👏🏼⚽️⛳️ Gary Andrew 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Andrew Posted July 24, 2022 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2022 Thanks Rappo, I will try my best but a little rain would be a nice start!!! 😀💦💦⚽ RAPPO 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Jacka Posted July 24, 2022 Report Share Posted July 24, 2022 Hi Gary Good luck mate, if you go onto the St Pirans page there is a piece there called Interesting covering a year in the life of a groundsman, mostly from Dave at Penryn lots of good stuff on there mate. TheolderIgetthebetterIwas, Gary Andrew and Dave Deacon 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenman Posted July 24, 2022 Report Share Posted July 24, 2022 Yes I agree , although I'm not involved in groundwork , my self and a few others here in Norfolk learned a lot off Older's ( and others ) discussions on here . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAPPO Posted July 24, 2022 Report Share Posted July 24, 2022 Can certainly vouch for that! What Older don’t know ain’t worth knowing! Was lucky enough to be a player at Penryn in my time and play on Olders carpets every week!! We were lucky lads that’s for sure, unless he caught you kicking a couple into the net after the warm up and you’d get a clip around the ear!! 😁 We certainly couldn’t blame the pitch for our bad touches that’s for sure!! Think all the old ex players would agree that Penryns pitch was the best surface in Cornwall for many years 👍👏🏼👌⚽️ Gary Andrew and TheolderIgetthebetterIwas 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenman Posted July 24, 2022 Report Share Posted July 24, 2022 Going slightly off the original post here . Your mention of Older rollicking you for kicking in after warm up , Rappo . Reminds me of a radio programme some years ago on Radio Norfolk about the legendary Norwich City groundsman Russell Allison . Some of the players at that time Kevin Keelan , Martin Peters , Duncan Forbes etc. were telling stories about how they were lectured by him before they had to paint the rails and stand barriers during the off season ( yes even superstars were expected to look after the ground during close season in those days ) not under any circumstances were they to walk on his hallowed ground when they went for lunch .Duncan Forbes a giant Scotsman a defender who terrified most forwards , said that once he did run across the pitch desperate for the toilet , when he was painting a fence on the halfway line . He'd almost got across when a voice boomed out " get off my f***** pitch you useless Scotsman , your'e got 90 minutes on a Saturday to bugger it up , you don't need to mid week as well " I suppose there is no recording available of that programme and it's a pity that somebody didn't write his memoirs or a contribution of stories about him .I did meet him a few times when I did pitch side patrol prior to Norwich's home games in the 70's . He used to politely ask us to keep off the pitch before the game because " them bloody great coppers boots do more damage to the grass than them silly buggers who run around with studs on their boots " BUT he always had a twinkle in his eye . A really great character . Apologies for interupting your post Gary I felt a bit nostalgic . TheolderIgetthebetterIwas, Mark Leah and RAPPO 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Andrew Posted July 24, 2022 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2022 11 hours ago, WRJ said: Hi Gary Good luck mate, if you go onto the St Pirans page there is a piece there called Interesting covering a year in the life of a groundsman, mostly from Dave at Penryn lots of good stuff on there mate. Thanks WJR. I have just spent the last couple hours reading through that post and it was very informative with lots learnt!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheolderIgetthebetterIwas Posted July 24, 2022 Report Share Posted July 24, 2022 32 minutes ago, Gary A said: Thanks WJR. I have just spent the last couple hours reading through that post and it was very informative with lots learnt!! Hello gary. You can always ask a question on that thread if you have problems. Remember, looking after a football pitch is a big difference from a golf course and greens. Biggest difference is the compaction and the damage in the winter. Time is what you will need most of, and your best friend...your fork! Gary Andrew and Mark Leah 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Andrew Posted July 24, 2022 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2022 19 minutes ago, TheolderIgetthebetterIwas said: Hello gary. You can always ask a question on that thread if you have problems. Remember, looking after a football pitch is a big difference from a golf course and greens. Biggest difference is the compaction and the damage in the winter. Time is what you will need most of, and your best friend...your fork! Thanks Dave / Older (not sure what to call you for the best on this forum?). Yes, I have lots to learn, but really looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead and that's why I wanted to be part of a group with like minded people and plenty of experience like yourself. As you say, compaction is going to be a major factor - I will be very pro-active on aeration as much as possible, when ever conditions allow - no heavy machinery on the pitch in the Winter months. I am determined to go Chemical free as well. I will be Brewing my own Compost Tea's along with added Bio- Stimulants to work that soil biology and let all those microbes / bacteria feed the soil with all of the other benefits. Really excited about this new journey. Cheers Gary TheolderIgetthebetterIwas and RAPPO 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheolderIgetthebetterIwas Posted July 24, 2022 Report Share Posted July 24, 2022 1 hour ago, Gary A said: Thanks Dave / Older (not sure what to call you for the best on this forum?). Yes, I have lots to learn, but really looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead and that's why I wanted to be part of a group with like minded people and plenty of experience like yourself. As you say, compaction is going to be a major factor - I will be very pro-active on aeration as much as possible, when ever conditions allow - no heavy machinery on the pitch in the Winter months. I am determined to go Chemical free as well. I will be Brewing my own Compost Tea's along with added Bio- Stimulants to work that soil biology and let all those microbes / bacteria feed the soil with all of the other benefits. Really excited about this new journey. Cheers Gary Interesting there Gary, keep us updated on your non chemical journey, going to be tough to be weed free and soil solid for sure. Myself I used to keep the use of chemicals to a minimum in such as I generally would use them at half strength for the same results. Our new groundsman Kevin is a big fan of hand weeding the pitch! But of course butter cups and clover don't lend themselves to that type of weeding, so a light chemical touch is needed there methinks. Keep us informed on that trip buddy. Older or Dave which ever takes your preference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Andrew Posted July 25, 2022 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2022 9 hours ago, TheolderIgetthebetterIwas said: Interesting there Gary, keep us updated on your non chemical journey, going to be tough to be weed free and soil solid for sure. Myself I used to keep the use of chemicals to a minimum in such as I generally would use them at half strength for the same results. Our new groundsman Kevin is a big fan of hand weeding the pitch! But of course butter cups and clover don't lend themselves to that type of weeding, so a light chemical touch is needed there methinks. Keep us informed on that trip buddy. Older or Dave which ever takes your preference. Good morning Dave, yes I will gradually hand pick weeds and back fill with compost / seed mix when time allows. I am hoping that a verticut on the clover will sort that out (it's worked in my garden) - not sure about butter cups at the moment to be honest. Cheers, Gary TheolderIgetthebetterIwas 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Pethick Posted July 25, 2022 Report Share Posted July 25, 2022 No doubt you're already across this Gary, but an interesting read. No doubt many people will be looking at how you get on with the non chemical journey regarding the G's playing surface. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/may/24/eden-project-creatorsto-open-edible-green-golf-course-gillyflower-cornwall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Andrew Posted July 25, 2022 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2022 11 minutes ago, Way Of The Park said: No doubt you're already across this Gary, but an interesting read. No doubt many people will be looking at how you get on with the non chemical journey regarding the G's playing surface. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/may/24/eden-project-creatorsto-open-edible-green-golf-course-gillyflower-cornwall What a very interesting read thank you. I will have to pop up there for nine holes being a keen golfer 🏌️♂️ Truro Golf Club have been using compost tea and biostimulants for the last 5 years and there has been a dramatic improvement in the greens along with monthly / twice monthly aeration in one form or another. Cheers, Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Pethick Posted July 25, 2022 Report Share Posted July 25, 2022 1 hour ago, Gary A said: What a very interesting read thank you. I will have to pop up there for nine holes being a keen golfer 🏌️♂️ Truro Golf Club have been using compost tea and biostimulants for the last 5 years and there has been a dramatic improvement in the greens along with monthly / twice monthly aeration in one form or another. Cheers, Gary Completely off topic Gary, but regarding stopping the use of chemicals on plants and gardens, I have been using my own home made banana skin fertiliser this year. Simply put old banana skins in a container, put about 3inch of water over the top, and leave to soak for 5 days. Sieve it to use just the now potassium rich water on your plants, my outdoor pots seem to love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Andrew Posted July 25, 2022 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2022 13 minutes ago, Way Of The Park said: Completely off topic Gary, but regarding stopping the use of chemicals on plants and gardens, I have been using my own home made banana skin fertiliser this year. Simply put old banana skins in a container, put about 3inch of water over the top, and leave to soak for 5 days. Sieve it to use just the now potassium rich water on your plants, my outdoor pots seem to love it. Brilliant and it is that easy!!🍌 Look at the photo's of work I done at Godolphin - I decompacted the goal mouths, over seeded and top dress with compost - five days later, germination and look at the healthy colour of that grass. RAPPO 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenman Posted July 25, 2022 Report Share Posted July 25, 2022 Helpful tip Way of , might try it on plants on the allotment . You see Gary a mine of information on here . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Pethick Posted July 25, 2022 Report Share Posted July 25, 2022 9 minutes ago, fenman said: Helpful tip Way of , might try it on plants on the allotment . You see Gary a mine of information on here . I've got my eyes on Monty Don's gig. 😁 TheolderIgetthebetterIwas and Gary Andrew 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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