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Pitch Set to Be Ready for New Season Following Renovation
Wednesday, 4th Jul 2018 09:29

Town groundsman Ben Connell has published the June entry of his Turf Journal, outlining the work which has been carried out on the pitches at Portman Road and Playford Road over the summer.

“After spending a long week renovating, the task of furiously growing in the pitch to reach a pristine condition begins,” Connell writes.

“If all has gone to plan and the sun has shone, we should be ‘match ready’ in about six weeks.

"This year, we had germination on the stadium pitch in six days. After another week, we are mowing every day.”

You can read the entry in full here, while Connell, who took charge of Town’s pitches following Alan Ferguson’s departure in 2011, can be followed on Twitter here.


Photo: Turf Journal



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wkj added 09:52 - Jul 4
That Ben Connell, he's such a grass
1

Monkey_Blue added 09:54 - Jul 4
Am I the only one thinking that “of course it is”? If they renovated it and weren't sure it would be ready they'd be a bunch of morons
1

BlueBlood90 added 09:56 - Jul 4
About time. the pitch last season was a disgrace and an embarrassment to our club at times.
4

PortmanTerrorist added 10:38 - Jul 4
Don't get too excited guys, the pitch will falter again as the season continues. Not my opinion but Alan Ferguson's who has stated in print that the pitch is old-school and needs a complete replacement which (guess what) costs serious money. Don't think he was being harsh as he also recently stated that despite expanding his role with FIFA he could always be called on by ITFC for advice if we ever actually get round to doing a proper job on the pitch.

Pitch has not seemingly been a priority but that might change and become a bigger issue this season if we dare to actually try to play football on it !
4

jimmyjames added 10:56 - Jul 4
Can they sort out my herbaceous boarder... thanks.
1

PhilTWTD added 11:34 - Jul 4
Monkey_Blue

My headline wasn't intended to add any element of jeopardy to the situation, just sum up some of what's in the blog. Thought it was an interesting read.
4

Northstandveteran added 11:34 - Jul 4
Due to his misinterpretation of the Suffolk accent, Marcus Evans has bought Ben Connell a cow.
Apparently he asked for a new lawn moooer.
2

Northstandveteran added 11:38 - Jul 4
Well done on the pitch though Ben.
I hope you get a pay rise and would like to think you're 'raking' it in.
0

Monkey_Blue added 13:35 - Jul 4
PhilTWTD.... I work in media, it's ok, my comment was pure sarcasm and I read the article 😉👍
0

SheptonMalletBlue added 14:52 - Jul 4
Turf Journal, what a great read!!!!
1

JewellintheTown added 15:46 - Jul 4
Just read the Turf Journal entry. Before today I could very safely say I had absolutely no interest in reading about turf laying, but, to be honest, after reading that, I'm genuinely fascinated. Who new? Cheers Phil.
2

budgieplucker added 17:27 - Jul 4
Great piece from Ben in the turf journal.

I likewise had absolutely no idea how skilled this job is but Ben has got me convinced.

Seems there is a lot more to sports science than just treating the donkeys who graze on the pitch!!!

Shame we can't find some money to put some central heating under the pitch and help restore our historic reputation to having one of the best playing surfaces in the country!!!
1

Bert added 19:08 - Jul 4
Grass technology is a serious business so let's leave it to the person at ITFC whose job it is. By the way, Rubber Weekly was always my amusing monthly magazine !!
0

Suffolkboy added 20:17 - Jul 6
All good technical stuff , and designed to keep the diary up to date ( as green keepers do ) and he assesses and illuminates the challenges and climate / timescale difficulties very well .BUT ,and is he not allowed ?, there's no open declaration of exactly what we are setting out to achieve in terms of better , and better lasting playability throughout the season ; nor any indication from elsewhere that IM and ME share empathy or have agreed the sort of obojectives we all want to see realised.
The only comment of note I've seen from IM was the bleat about expense and ' over use ' ; why don't we invest in a totally new pitch ?AF has got them right in Russia, has offered his services to ITFC , but there's deafening silence and our obviously able groundsman deserves much more encouragement !
Let's see the problems enumerated , alongside similar recommendations for ' make do and mend ' AND his assessment of what course of action would actually remedy the ills .
Come on ME and I M release some funds to put things right , before next season .,
0


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