Keepmoat hoping to be 'pitch-er' perfect in time for new season.
www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk caught up with Head Groundsman Jim Davison who, despite the football season ending, is still busy at this time of year.
The Keepmoat Stadium turf has been ripped up and is undergoing renovation work in preparation for Rovers’ 2014/15 League 1 campaign.
Jim, explain to us what’s going on.
“It’s usual format for a football club; this pitch is a ‘Desso’ pitch and I’m lead to believe that we’ve had between 90 and 100 games on the pitch during the season and there’s other events that take place because people want to play on the hallowed turf, but this was the weekend we had to renovate it.
“As you can see, it’s looking like a beach. With the weather and a bit of know how from me and my team, we should have it looking like the football pitch we know and love again in around two weeks’ time.”
What goes in to the renovation work?
“What we do is strip it back to as it was laid six or seven years ago. It’s 6% plastic which enables Doncaster Rovers to fulfil fixtures.”
How does that fit in with the multitude of teams that use the pitch?
Obviously we’re unique because of Doncaster Rovers, Doncaster Rovers Belles and Doncaster Rugby League so we have to be able to sustain all three. From our point of view, it’s a bit of a struggle at times because I want a rest, as everyone naturally does, but the pitch never rests.
What sort of time from are we looking at?
“We were in at 7pm on Sunday night to start and although it’s a quick job, it’s also a thorough job. It used to take a week or two, but now it’s a 48 hour job.
“Now we have seed in the ground, we’re hoping to see green shoots soon. It gives us approximately 5 weeks, and if Mother Nature does a job for us I cant see any problems – the Dons are due back here on 29th June against Whitehaven so we’ll have to be ready for then.”
Keep up with the latest activity at the Keepmoat Stadium during the close season via:
www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk