Derbyshire County FA continues to work in partnership with the Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) to deliver The FA’s Pitch Improvement Programme, along with programme partners Rigby Taylor and Charterhouse Turf Machinery.

The Grounds Maintenance awareness evenings form part of this Programme and are ideal for all grassroots football volunteers who have the responsibility of maintaining and looking after their club’s pitches. 

This latest workshop took place at Long Eaton United FC on the 6th November 2017. The evening was co-ordinated by the IOG’s Key Account Manager for football, Tom Rowley and supported by the IOG’s Regional Pitch Advisor Andy Clarke, Mark Robinson from Rigby Taylor and Richard Lucas from Charterhouse Turf Machinery. 

The evening was attended by volunteers from 10 Derbyshire football clubs, all of who have the responsibility for improving the pitches at their clubs. The workshop included a session on how to deliver grounds maintenance on a shoestring budget, a machinery demonstration and updates from all programme partners. It also provided an excellent opportunity for the attendees to network and share challenges and best practice.   

Keely Brown, DCFA’s Head of Strategy & Facilities said ‘It was again another superb evening. We have so many dedicated volunteers in Derbyshire who do an amazing job to maintain and improve the pitches clubs play on. I would like to thank them all for their attendance and for the work they do out across the County on a daily basis. I would also like to thank Long Eaton United FC for hosting the evening and for all the programme partners for delivering such a valuable evening’. 

Derbyshire County FA will in the future be looking to organise an IOG Level 1 course. Further details will be available in the New Year, so keep an eye out on the website!

For more information on The FA Pitch Improvement Programme, please contact: 

Keely Brown 
Head of Strategy and Facilities 
E: keely.brown@derbyshirefa.com 
T: 01332 361422