Ground staff are fundamental to cricket. No other surface affects the sport it is played on more than a cricket pitch, and while it may not always seem like it, ground staff are vital, as they are instrumental in the enjoyment and safety of those who play on our grounds and pitches.
The Nottinghamshire Cricket Grounds Association was initiated to support the counties ground staff, with the aim to aid the continued improvement of playing surfaces at all levels of the game.
The association provides a link between the volunteer ground staff in village cricket, through club cricket right up to the first class arena. It allows like-minded, dedicated individuals access to a wealth of knowledge from their peers, who are working in similar conditions and, more often than not, encountering similar issues.
The association is currently able to:
- Organise educational courses in cricket grounds maintenance and related courses
- Offer local support, help and advice
- Offer access to specialist machinery
- Provide access to savings on soils and other materials/supplies
- Promote cricket grounds maintenance and good practice
- Provide all its services in a way that is fair to all members
- Represent the best interests of cricket ground staff in Nottinghamshire at local and national level
Benefits of association membership include an invitation to a range of meeting dates, where members enjoy sharing information and ideas, as well as listening to a series of presentations by experts who share their knowledge through talks and demonstrations.
Membership also includes discount fees on GMA/ECB courses as well as locally run training courses. These give ground staff, new and old, the opportunity to increase their knowledge, from the basics to the more advanced aspects of turf management.
Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club has two qualified ECB Pitch advisors who are available to members to support them in the development and improvement of playing surfaces across the county.
The role of a pitch advisor is:
- advise on performance / quality of pitches
- provide recommendations on improvements that can be made
- carry out basic or detailed assessments
For more information on the role of the pitch advisor email NCGA@nottsccc.co.uk.
The NCGA members also have access to specialist equipment that can be used to provide square maintenance and repair. This equipment will be delivered and demonstrated by experienced ground staff/turf care specialists. These resources are provided at discounted rates as agreed and set by the NCGA in order to give ground staff across the county access to both the best equipment and knowledgeable resource.
Anyone involved or interested in cricket pitch preparation are welcome to become a member, and the learning potential alone is enormous, as just talking to other local ground staff can be rewarding in itself.
If you or anyone at your club is interested in joining the NCGA, annual membership is just £10 per person. Click on the attached form below or please email NCGA@nottsccc.co.uk for an application form.
Recognising the importance of servicing ground staff from across the country, the ECB have also launched 'The Essential Guide To Cricket Grounds Maintenance'.