Groundsman Abroad Interview

Groundsman Abroad Chris Hague Interview

Chris, tell us about yourself and where you work?

I have always had a passion for football and on leaving school l started out on my goal to be a full-time football player, leaving home and signing for Northampton Town fc. At seventeen I returned back up north to Preston.

I worked in my parent’s Preston pub, did some casual work on building sites and played semi-pro football for boot money, so in my late teens I had no worries. But according to my Mum “I had no long-term plan” so in the early ‘90s I took a sports turf course at Myerscough college. I successfully completed and enjoyed the course I signed for another three years on the turf science diploma.

I was continued playing football and continued enjoying the delights of Preston’s nightlife and still didn’t have many worries!   

In 1995 as I joined the grounds team at Wembley stadium. My first pitch event was Bon Jovi and since then I have managed pitches through in excess of one hundred non-sporting events these included Speedway, monster trucks, ice hockey, Mike Tyson and even the Euro vision song contest.

I have managed in five national stadiums pitches and worked in all the majority of the major tournaments, Champions league, Euro league, FIFA world cup and the African Nations.

With Wembley stadium due for reconstruction my wife Joanne and I moved out to Scandinavia in the late ‘90s.

I currently successfully run my grounds management consultancy business.

What is the major difference, if any between growing grass abroad in Europe compared to the U.K.?

Methods and resources. We are seeing a knock-on effect from the English standards impacting into Europe and beyond. The quality and systems and methods developed and practised by the UK groundsmen is pretty much nailed on and all things considered produces the best pitches in football.

Predominantly we are using cool season grasses throughout Europe. In southern Europe a number of the pitches are warm season or transitional and the groundsmen are using cool and warm season grasses.

In my opinion the UK industry knowledge has been and continues to be few years in front of most of the leagues in Europe. I suppose that why we continue to see the export of UK grounds managers overseas and as a consequence an improvement in the quality we see throughout Europe.  

We are seeing many of the methods and technologies utilized in the UK, now in practice in Europe.

In many stadia I visit throughout Europe the resources in particular labour, are not at the levels we see in the top level of the UK. In some instances, this determines that you need to rethink your strategy in managing the pitches whilst still aiming for the required performance and quality standards for the pitch.  

What new technologies help you do your job and what is the one missing technology to be invented to help within the stadium environment?

Grow lights, stabilized pitches and the groundman’s practices have had a major impact on raising the standard for football pitches. 

This has raised the expectations of the football clubs for their pitches. Also the continued development of football as a global business and we see pitches from all leagues on television on a daily basis and clubs see the levels of quality possible.  

Clubs throughout Europe have varying budgets and challenges and in many situations financial support is not there to install maintain certain technologies of methods.

Stadia are predominantly now installing 1000w light systems (as far as I am aware, I introduced the first 1000 watt grow light system into stadia) The switch from 600 w to 1000 w has create a used 600 w market and this has enabled clubs to purchase light systems on lower budgets. Also, the running costs of the 600 w is considerably less than the 1000w.

I work with hybrids, lights 600-1000w and led, grass roots pitches so with varying technologies and budgets.

Whilst we continue to implement synthetic systems in my opinion it’s important to continue to understand and implement common sense into the management of the grass plant.   

What are the key things grass needs in the stadia environment?

Same as outside the stadia, it’s just generally limited in the stadia.

water, air, light and temperature…WALT!

These are the limiting factors for plant growth and as turf managers if we can maintain these in the optimum percentages, we can produce a healthy grass plant and quality pitch.  If any of these limiting factors are depleted or excessive it can have a negative effect on the plant health.

On your travels have you seen any machinery or equipment that you are surprised is not being used in the U.K.?

With many companies having global distribution networks, you see many of the same machines and brands overseas. The internet and trade shows have helped to globalize and connect the industry.   

In the UK Stadiums the groundsmen use a lot of pedestrian machinery, but in many stadia facilities I have visited funding for the machinery and the groundsman to operate it is not an option. As an example, you could have two to three guys managing a number of pitches, so to cut the pitch with a pedestrian rotary isn’t practical as you also need to get outside and cut the training grounds. As an industry we also have to be conscience not to price ourselves out of the game. It’s not one system fits all.

The football clubs we represent are businesses. 

Does your pitch contain hybrid stitching and what difference does this make?

In terms of playing quality the hybrids have proven their value. The fibres help to maintain the stability of the pitch. I manage stadia and training Hybrid pitches also non constructed clay based natural pitches. 

Ideally clubs or facilities (if the land is available) would a have a combination of hybrid/stabilized, natural and artificial pitches installed and therefore all bases covered.

The elite players would use the hybrids and natural pitches and the younger players on the artificial in mass and have more young players participating. As the young players progress and develop they moved onto the elite grass pitches. When on the grass pitches they don’t want to go back to the artificial. Many companies have advised me that the progression of the game is to be played on artificial as it’s a “generational thing”. In practice I don’t see this as thee young players when the make the grade still want to play on grass.

What was your biggest challenge of 2019 on the pitches?

Managing pitches from FIFA/UEFA stadia standard to grass roots pitches and budgets so I don’t see it as one specific challenge.

The daily challenge or responsibility is to provide the players and coaches with the pitches they need to practice and perform. This is to be delivered within the club’s financial plan and expectations. 

As most groundsmen we face challenges with:

Pitch usage – the stadium catered for over 80 sessions in 2019.

Resources – the stadion pitch has not be “cleaned out” for 4 years

Climate “its grim up north”

I am sure most groundsmen can relate to the above!

What changes would you like to see within the industry?

In my opinion is would be productive to see a closer working relationship between the groundsmen and with the coaching staff. In some clubs I see it but in others there is not enough constructive communication.  

Continued and increased provision in grass roots football. There are so many benefits for young players being involved in sport and for me sport should be number three on the school curriculum behind only maths and languages.   

Any advice for anyone thinking of working aboard in stadium environment?

Consider the pros and cons of the move and also what’s the worst-case scenario. Also take advice from turf managers that have made the move.

Try to integrate with local suppliers don’t alienate yourself. 

Remember it is not your pitch you maintain it for the club and players, be constructive, open minded and supportive to the team and the club, the pitch is a business.

Results equal resources and in my opinion by achieving results we can generate support from the clubs and this strategy has enabled clubs to improve their technologies and resources, including investing in the groundsmen.

Why do you think British groundsman make some of the best in the U.K, and abroad?

I think a combination of factors has contributed, the continued development of football in the UK and standards and expectations from all involved.

The knowledge base and education resources are also high in the UK.

There are a number of industry groundsmen leaders in my opinion bread in the UK and this inspires potential young grounds managers.      

A number of industry innovations and practices have been implemented in the UK and we see these innovations improving the quality of pitches in Europe and beyond. 

There has been substantial investment in the UK’s top clubs and pitches and the UK groundsmen have demonstrated to the football world what is achievable.

Install the foundations and the right guy to manage it is all that’s required! It’s a simplistic and successful philosophy.

Why would other leagues not import that proven strategy?  

Any top tips for grass root Groundsmen in terms of managing goalmouths and centre circles, maintenance or type of grass/seed or others?

In the goal areas on training grounds I install hybrid turf. The hybrid maintains the pitch levels when we lose grass cover.

In terms of seed if it is an option introduce creeping grasses such as poa pratensis. I appreciate this is not an option in many situations due to the establishment period of the grass.  

Advise the pitch owners or schedulers of the consequences of overuse particularly in times of limited grass recovery.  Educate the planners and investors.

What does the future hold in 2020 for your team?

We continue to try to improve and develop with the resources we have and if the opportunity arises improve on the resources we have. 

We are also set to implement a new initiative in the coming weeks which will benefit the game and our work.

The pitch was set for a reconstruction a number of years ago, but by improving the quality and understanding what we are dealing with in terms of the construction we have managed to delay the reconstruction and save the club a substantial investment. But after four years on the hybrid we do need to “clean out” the pitch surface and remove the organic and reseed. Not every day will be good but there will be something good in everyday

Chris Hague