Maintenance update

Over the pre-season break much work has been done to both the main pitch at McDiarmid but also the training pitches around the back of the stadium. Including all the ground works that have been conducted and the nutrition plans put in the place for the year, the clubs has spent north of six figures.

The training pitches were given a major renovation this year due to the inherited issues in which it was originally built.

Head groundsman, Chris Smith, described the work done to the pitch as a massive step forward:

“There were major renovations done to the two training pitches. We have sorted the drainage issues on the pitches which caused the players problems while training. The top layer of pitch was removed to get rid of any rotten vegetation and levelled it off with sand and then replanted with rye grass seed. It’s coming along really nicely which means by winter there will be a good surface for Callum and the boys to be training on.

“It’s a five-year project for these pitches to get right, it’s an ongoing project we must make sure things are kept on top of.

“In terms of the main pitch we were very limited in time. We have addressed the waterlogging issue on the east side of the pitch. It was a significant investment for the club and we’re beginning to see the rewards in the pitch already.”

Jonathan De Courcy, maintenance manager, says that he’s delighted with the work they’ve achieved over the close season:

“The guys are delighted they have a levelled pitch they can now train on, as well as the draining issues resolved.

“The company we used for the service, All Grass, have been brilliant throughout the process. When they started with the renovations they came in and did everything we wanted to a very high standard.”

Issues did arise on the pitch with the additional games played at McDiarmid due to the play-off games. De Courcy acknowledged the hard work put in by all the grounds team staff:

“The time scale had been reduced from 7 and a half weeks to 5 weeks, so to see what we have achieved, and then some, it’s a credit to all the boys in the maintenance team and grounds staff. We’ve not got a massive team of guys so I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved in the close season.”