Head groundsman Jim is not only renovating the Keepmoat pitch to get it in ‘tip-top’ condition for Darren Ferguson next season, but also helping the community while he does it.
Head groundsman Jim Davison and his team are hard at work again this summer to ensure that the Keepmoat Stadium playing surface is the very best it can be for the 2016/17 season.The Keepmoat Stadium pitch is one of the busiest in the country as it entertains Doncaster Rovers, Doncaster Rugby League and Doncaster Belles and has certainly kept Jim and his team busy throughout the year.
With the pitch renovation being one of the most important parts of the football ‘off-season’, this year however Jim and his team have done something slightly different and involved grounds people from all over South Yorkshire, giving them the chance to see what sort of work goes into the surface of a professional sports organisation.
“This year as part of the Sheffield and Hallamshire Pitch Improvement Programme, we at Club Doncaster have invited grounds people from all over to come and have a look at what we do here,” said Davison.
“A number of people from other sports clubs have come to us just to watch how we do our pitch renovation and learn from us to try and improve their procedure. This is our way of giving something back and trying to help those around Doncaster who are working in a similar field.
“ I want to help others around the area improve their work on pitches and improve their renovations so I saw this as an opportunity to invite them all here and take a look at how we do it.
“The renovation itself took just two days. The grass has been dug up using a Coro machine and then it’s just a case of break, seed, sand and fertilise and before we know it the grass will be growing back.”
Doncaster Rovers first match back on the Keepmoat greenery will be on Saturday 16th July when we take on Premier League Middlesbrough in a pre-season friendly, before hosting Newcastle United just a few days later on Wednesday 20th July.
With Darren Ferguson making seven new signings so far, the 2016/17 season looks set to be an exciting one as we push for promotion straight back to the EFL One at the first time of asking. You can see all the action at the Keepmoat Stadium next season with your #ForeverRovers season ticket here: