Doncaster Rovers

The pitch has been completely stripped by sports ground contractors Botham Prestige ready to be re-seeded and a new surface grown ready for the return of first team football at the end of July.

 

Head of stadium and operations Marie Hepburn said: “Andy Thompson and the grounds team do amazing work throughout the season to keep the pitch in the best possible condition, but this is a key part of the year when we do preparation work for the next 12 months. Having been highly commended by the Playing Surfaces Committee for the standard of the pitch last season, we are keen to maintain our reputation as one of the best surfaces in the league and the work done in the next few weeks will help get us on the best footing for the season ahead.

 

“The renovations are part of a significant schedule of work to improve the facilities at both the stadium and Elite Performance Centre at Cantley Park, where we’ve also renovated all four pitches which will be lush green and ready for first team training at the end of this month. The changing rooms are currently getting a fresh lick of paint and there are a number of further improvements being made before we welcome the players back after their break. 

 

“The operations team will then move their focus to the stadium itself to get it ready to welcome back supporters at the end of July. The football season never really stops for us, and everyone at the ground has been as busy as ever looking to ensure we’ve got the facilities in place for a promotion push.”

 

Head groundsman Andy added: “The pitch renovation has had its vegetation removed by a process of Koroing the surface, this cleans the surface to expose the Desso Grassmaster fibres.

 

“Then 90 tonnes of dried sand will be applied to restore surface levels, compaction will be relieved by the process of verti-draining and 400kg of perennial rye grass seed will be sown into the surface, the works were undertaken by  Botham Prestige in preparation for the establishment period ready for the end of July.”