Ramsey Grassroots Award 2022

Grass Pitch Maintenance Fund

Brett Fairholm
Case Study - Ramsey Colts Football Development

We recently spoke to Martin Muir, Secretary of Ramsey Colts Football Development about his involvement with the Football Foundation and the Pitch Power.

"We are now into the 3rd year of the Pitch Improvement Programme. We supply our data to the Football Foundation via the Pitch Power phone application which then generates a pitch report. This report allows the Foundation to make an objective and data-based assessment on the funding required to get the pitches to an improved standard. The App functionality is straight-forward but requires a good signal strength to submit the images".

In the first two years after receiving the full funding available for their facility of two 11v11, 9v9, 7v7 and three 5v5 pitches the Grounds Team managed to vertidrain, overseed, topdress, fertilise and weed-treat the whole area of the pitches. Now in their third year and with funding being scaled down, they are being more selective with their treatments based on the data received from the pitch report.

Throughout the process, Ramsey Colts FD have seen their pitch rating rise from poor and lower-basic to a good and advanced status, depending on the time of season or assessment window. The root depth has increased from 60mm in 2019 to 230mm in 2022 and they now have a grass density which helps inhibit further weed growth.

Martin added "Through the Machinery and Equipment Fund we were able to purchase our own fertiliser spreader and Megaslitter, and a new container to safely store our equipment. On initial inspection our goals were also found to be of inadequate standard, so we applied and received funding to replace these too, in the future we intend to use this fund again to help replace our mower. Throughout this whole process we have found the Hunts FA very helpful in organising information evenings, site visits, and offering telephone assistance whenever required and we remain very grateful for their support and that of the Football Foundation for funding the pitch and equipment maintenance that allows to support 21 teams of boys and girls youth football".

This year all the hard work and dedication shown by the team at Ramsey Colts FD has been recognised with them being named The Grassroots Grounds Team Of The Year, sponsored by British Sugar TOPSOIL.

If your club would like more information or advice on how to apply for support on how to develop your pitches please contact Andy Coles on 07931 956651 or email andy.coles@huntsfa.com or click on the link below.

 FIND OUT MORE