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Ed 'Mowes' | Supported by STIHL - December

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In a new online series, club partner STIHL is bringing fans exclusive insight into the inner workings of Leicester Tigers groundstaff team. 

Head groundsman Ed Mowe gives you a peek into what the grounds team have been up to during the festive month. 

Wednesday, December 1 – Friday, December 3

Mid-week preparation at Oval Park sees Pitch 2 marked out, alongside divoting and raking Pitches 1 and 3. The first team trained at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on the Friday ahead of the Harlequins game, and we finished up the pitch before putting flags and post protectors in place, before moving the light rigs off the pitch. 

MATCHDAY | Sunday, December 5 | Tigers v Quins

Game day kicks off with marking the pitch out with strings and includes a double mow, mowing the pitch perimeter with the STIHL RM 655 RS rear roller mower and setting up the flags and post-protectors.

C’mon Tigers!  

Tuesday, December 7 – Friday, December 10

Another win for the boys is followed by a well-earned day off for the team. We’re back at the stadium cleaning the pitch and pathways, raking the rubber crumb and repairing damaged areas with seed. 

Oval Park’s pitches are also treated for damage with a low temperature grass seed, with the team returning to the stadium for team practise. Following the session, the team cleaned the pitch with rotary mower and started divoting. A weekend off for the pitch as the boys travel to France for the Champions Cup. Bring home the points lads!

Monday, December 13 – Saturday, December 18 

Preparation for the final home game of 2021 started at Oval Park, where pitches 1 and 3 were treated with a slow release fertilizer, while we used a fungicide to help prevent disease outbreak at the stadium. Due to the milder and damp conditions, disease pathogens will be active in the grass plant.

Friday’s practise session at the stadium wrapped up the week before a light prep on the Saturday ahead of the Sunday fixture. 

MATCHDAY | Sunday, December 19 | Tigers v Connacht Rugby

Europe returns for an early kick off, with the majority of the work done by the grounds team the day before. Tigers maintain their 100% record in the competition and the grounds team clear any debris and repair work. GET IN TIGERS!

Monday, December 20 – Monday, December 31

With Christmas festivities just a few days away, the team crack on with clear up work at the stadium and over seeded the whole of the pitch with low temperature rye grass using a tractor and dimple seeder. With no game until the new year, we move the lighting rigs in place. 

Attention turned to Oval Park on the 21st aerating all pitches. Continued divoting and fertilizing the pitch helps with winter growth and regeneration. 

Christmas Eve sees the team train at the stadium, and as we head into the new year, the pitch is sprayed with soil penetrant to aid the movement of water through the pitch profile. 

A well–earned mince pie and glass of sherry! Hope you all had a great Christmas and a Happy New Year!  

Ed and his team’s monthly log will be back next week with club partner STIHL. To discover more about STIHL’s range of products, visit their website at the link below.