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Club Insight - Graham the Groundsman
Justin English23 Oct 2024 - 07:20
@rfu @yrfu
How long have you been with the club and how did you get the gig?
I’ve been at Sandal for 10 years. I was working at West Yorkshire Sports, and they knocked my hours down.
Whilst I was on 20 hours a week, I got a call from Wakefield City Rugby League who played at Sandal saying there was a groundsman needed. So, I ended up doing both roles.
Have you ever donned a playing shirt and had a game of rugby?
I played at school, but our school at Crofton was a footballing school. The head of sport was an ex-footballer - a Bristol City pro. We only had about three games of rugby per year, but I like to watch both codes.
When Wakefield Rugby Club played in the John Player Cup I used to go down and watch it.
What was your job back in the day?
I left school when I as 15 and I didn’t want to go down the pit. I had a friend who was working in Heavy Industry, and he worked at a place called Alfred Ellis Engineering - I went there as an apprentice moulder. I did that for 30 years till it closed.
How did you become a groundsman?
I started playing cricket when I was 17 and the wickets were rubbish! I got on the committee at Sharlston, and a course come up to learn how to be a cricket groundsman which I went on.
I went on all the courses for preparing cricket grounds and that’s what leant me into it.
In the summer I was working 6 till 2 and then going down the to the cricket pitch.
What would say is harder, maintaining a rugby pitch or a cricket pitch?
A cricket wicket is 24/7. To have a good wicket you have got to be on top of it.
What are the perks of playing a role at Sandal?
When I first come, I didn’t like cleaning changing rooms, the lads at the time were a good team and they got me through that.
Ever since that the people have respected what I have done and that goes a long way for me - I feel part of the club.
What are the major improvements at Sandal?
When I first come down here the girl’s rugby was in its infancy. I can remember the first session, there was three or four girls and that was it. It has slowly grown to becoming an integral part of the club.
On the maintenance side, the old committee didn’t have the resources to offer what we have got now.
Everybody knows we have the grant from the RFU. We now have a tractor, a roller and a mower. We now have equipment to look after the ground and that will be a big improvement to the club.
The big question for a groundsman! Artificial pitches and real pitches, what’s the pros and cons?
Artificial pitches for me are good for training on, but I would never put an artificial pitch down.
Unless if you’re going to spend loads of money like Premiership football clubs who have a sand-based ground, they then have the artificial pitches knitted in.
I’d have an artificial pitch for training to take the pressure off the grassed pitches.
I’ve been at Sandal for 10 years. I was working at West Yorkshire Sports, and they knocked my hours down.
Whilst I was on 20 hours a week, I got a call from Wakefield City Rugby League who played at Sandal saying there was a groundsman needed. So, I ended up doing both roles.
Have you ever donned a playing shirt and had a game of rugby?
I played at school, but our school at Crofton was a footballing school. The head of sport was an ex-footballer - a Bristol City pro. We only had about three games of rugby per year, but I like to watch both codes.
When Wakefield Rugby Club played in the John Player Cup I used to go down and watch it.
What was your job back in the day?
I left school when I as 15 and I didn’t want to go down the pit. I had a friend who was working in Heavy Industry, and he worked at a place called Alfred Ellis Engineering - I went there as an apprentice moulder. I did that for 30 years till it closed.
How did you become a groundsman?
I started playing cricket when I was 17 and the wickets were rubbish! I got on the committee at Sharlston, and a course come up to learn how to be a cricket groundsman which I went on.
I went on all the courses for preparing cricket grounds and that’s what leant me into it.
In the summer I was working 6 till 2 and then going down the to the cricket pitch.
What would say is harder, maintaining a rugby pitch or a cricket pitch?
A cricket wicket is 24/7. To have a good wicket you have got to be on top of it.
What are the perks of playing a role at Sandal?
When I first come, I didn’t like cleaning changing rooms, the lads at the time were a good team and they got me through that.
Ever since that the people have respected what I have done and that goes a long way for me - I feel part of the club.
What are the major improvements at Sandal?
When I first come down here the girl’s rugby was in its infancy. I can remember the first session, there was three or four girls and that was it. It has slowly grown to becoming an integral part of the club.
On the maintenance side, the old committee didn’t have the resources to offer what we have got now.
Everybody knows we have the grant from the RFU. We now have a tractor, a roller and a mower. We now have equipment to look after the ground and that will be a big improvement to the club.
The big question for a groundsman! Artificial pitches and real pitches, what’s the pros and cons?
Artificial pitches for me are good for training on, but I would never put an artificial pitch down.
Unless if you’re going to spend loads of money like Premiership football clubs who have a sand-based ground, they then have the artificial pitches knitted in.
I’d have an artificial pitch for training to take the pressure off the grassed pitches.
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