External Funding and Support Links for Turf Professionals, contains links to online training and links to funding and support. There is also a list of all known UK groundsman associations.
Also recently added are my reading recommendations.
We are always updating this page, so please do come back.
Cricket, Football, Rugby and Bowls links to funding and support below.
Bowl Green Support Links
Bowls England – https://www.bowlsengland.com/
Reading recommendations- https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bowling-Greens-History-Construction-Maintenance/dp/1873431015
Rugby Groundsmen Connect
https://www.englandrugby.com/participation/running-your-club/facilities/natural-turf-pitches
Reading recommendations- https://www.amazon.co.uk/Winter-Games-Pitches-Construction-Maintenance/dp/1873431031
Football Groundsmen Support
Reading recommendations- https://www.amazon.co.uk/Winter-Games-Pitches-Construction-Maintenance/dp/1873431031
Winter Sports Groundsman facebook page –https://www.facebook.com/groups/400436607221516/
Cricket Groundsmen Book Recomendations
This book is old but still a good read, with information on the construction and maintenance of cricket tables, so l highly recommend it as a reading resource.
– https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=crciket+r.d.c+evans&i=stripbooks&ref=nb_sb_noss
TS4 Fine Turf Booklet- https://www.ecb.co.uk/be-involved/club-support/club-facility-management/surface-types
ECB Rolling trials-https://www.durhamcricket.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/guidelines-for-rolling-in-cricket-10409.pdf
ECB Cricket pitch aeration research-file:///C:/Users/Samsung400B/Downloads/Simon_Parsons_Thesis_2012.pdf
Just a good read for any groundsman looking to really get to know turf culture- https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sports-Turf-Amenity-Grassland-Management/dp/1861267908/ref=pd_sbs_14_1/259-4517799-3943537?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1861267908&pd_rd_r=5fc3265d-65ff-41a2-9636-62d4e88971fa&pd_rd_w=VotUk&pd_rd_wg=hRUmj&pf_rd_p=2773aa8e-42c5-4dbe-bda8-5cdf226aa078&pf_rd_r=CGYVPGHQ39YFGCF69TG7&psc=1&refRID=CGYVPGHQ39YFGCF69TG7
Cricket Groundsman facebook community group-mentoring,community chat, link up to local Groundsman https://www.facebook.com/groups/717957209036259/
ECB Funding/Support for clubs
Pitch Power Football Foundation Funding – https://footballfoundation.org.uk/power-up-your-grass-pitch
Club Funding – https://www.ecb.co.uk/be-involved/club-support/club-funding
Sport England Small Grants Fund – https://www.sportengland.org/funds-and-campaigns/our-funds/queens-platinum-jubilee-activity-fund
The Grounds Management Association
“To promote quality surfaces and quality services and establish the GMA as ‘the’ leading professional organisation for grounds management, recognised by the National Governing Bodies of Sport and the public, private and voluntary sectors for its industry knowledge and technical expertise.’
https://www.thegma.org.uk/ – Main GMA Page
https://www.thegma.org.uk/learning/training – Link to online training or qualifications
Take a look at this blog, with some funding route links- https://blog.pitchero.com/7-funding-pots-open-to-sports-clubs-for-2019
Cricket Groundsmen Associations
Please see the below link to associations links and facebook pages.
Cambridgeshire
http://www.cambscricket.org.uk/page/facilities/cambs–hunts-grounds-association/overview-4740/
Cheshire
Cornwall
https://cornwallcricket.co.uk/get-involved/cornwall-association-cricket-groundsmen-2/
Cumbria
https://www.facebook.com/groups/173727209780768
Derbyshire
https://dcfcricket.com/groundstaff/
Devon
http://www.devoncricket.co.uk/page.php?Id=1543
Dorset
Durham
http://durhamcb.play-cricket.com/website/web_pages/191487
Essex
https://www.essexcricket.org.uk/community/groundsman-association
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1813185158962155
Gloucestershire
https://www.gloucestershirecricketboard.com/associations/groundsmen-gga/
Hampshire
https://www.ageasbowl.com/cricket/cricket-board/courses/groundsmanship
Kent
https://www.kentcommunitycricket.co.uk/news/category/groundsman-association
Lancashire
https://foundation.lancashirecricket.co.uk/clubs-and-leagues/lancashire-groundsmans-association
Leicestershire
http://www.leicestershirecricket.co.uk/groundsmen/
Lincolnshire
http://www.lincscricket.co.uk/ground-staff/
Norfolk
http://www.norfolkcricket.co.uk/grounds-training.asp
Northamptonshire
https://nccc.co.uk/community/volunteering
https://www.facebook.com/groups/694667410919001
Nottinghamshire
http://www.nottscricket.com/page/get-involved/groundsman/groundsman-15230
Oxfordshire
Somerset
https://www.somersetcricketboard.co.uk/associations/groundsman/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/525508464603936
South Wales
http://www.cricketwales.org.uk/South_Wales_Cricket_Groundsman_Association/195
Staffordshire
https://www.staffordshirecricket.co.uk/about/Grounds-Care
Surrey
http://www.surreycricketfoundation.org/page/surrey-grounds-support-network-14
Suffolk
https://suffolkcricket.org/2880-2/suffolk-grounds-association/
Sussex
https://sussexcricket.co.uk/groundsmen
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=303242686866009
Wiltshire
https://www.wiltshirecricket.co.uk/groundsmen.html
North Wales
https://nwcl.play-cricket.com/website/web_pages/174074
Northern Cricket Union
https://northerncricketunion.org/database/2013/news/articles/article228.shtml
Worcestershire
http://www.worcestershirecricket.co.uk/page/clubs/groundsmen/groundsmen-7150
Yorkshire
http://www.yorkshirecb.com/page/grounds/contacts/contacts-5426
Our role at Turfcareblog is offer Groundsman and Greenkeeper the opportunity to have a voice within the industry via blogs/articles, whether that’s as a volunteer Groundsman or a top professional
Anyone can write something, share a skill or experience or just pass on some wisdom.
External Funding and Support Links for Groundsman