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 peak into what the grounds team have been up to during the January.
MATCHDAY | Saturday, January 1 | Tigers v Newcastle
It was straight back to it for the Tigers grounds team as Tigers kicked off the New Year with a 31-0 home win over Newcastle Falcons. The winter weather made for a cold start, but the win warmed up everyone up with the place rocking at full-time.
Monday, January 3 – Friday, January 7
The week began with any repairs to the Mattioli Woods Welford Road pitch raking to bring the levels back across the pitch and the removal of surface debris. The STIHL BR 450 C-EF Petrol Backpack Blower came in handy here. With frost on the way later in the week, waterproof covers and lighting rigs were put in place.
Monday, January 10 – Friday, January 14
Following Tigers away trip to neighbours Wasps, we took the opportunity to seed the middle of the pitch by hand and again prepare the pitches for a wet and cold week. With time to fertilze the pitch in between the weather, the frost protection covers did their job, with the team training at the stadium before an away day to Connacht in the European Champions Cup.
Monday, January 17 – Friday, January 21
A week to go until rugby returned to the stadium, with the pitch given a cut width ways and covered. Maintenance at Oval Park continued, as the grounds team worked above and beyond to repair, protect and keep the training pitches useable. The day before matchday, we re-marked the pitch and covered in anticipation.
MATCHDAY CALLED OFF | Saturday, January 22 | Tigers v Bordeaux Bègles
Connacht recorded a number of COVID-19 cases meaning the match was called off at short notice. Everyone had put so much work in for the game to be on, but in this day and age it’s just one of those things. A rare Saturday off!
Monday, January 24 – Monday, January 28
With the game being cancelled, the good news was that it allowed more time for the pitch to recover following a wet opening month to 2022. We were able to roll the pitch at the stadium, divoting the pitch cleaning up ready for the start of a busy February schedule with three home games coming up.
Ed and his team’s monthly log will be back next month with club partner STIHL. To discover more about STIHL’s range of products, visit their website at the link below.
https://www.stihl.co.uk/products.aspx
