Financed by funds from the England and Wales Cricket Board – which is ploughing £460,000 into the IOG over the next four years – these new appointments complement the existing network of IOG Regional Advisors covering the North, Wales & the South West and Scotland.
An additional Regional Advisor – for the South East (south of the Thames) is currently being recruited.
The IOG Regional Advisor network is regarded, says IOG Chief Executive Geoff Webb “as a lifeline in maintaining an effective link between head office and our branch network and critical in taking the IOG forward in terms of reaching out to and liaising with the country’s 20,000–strong body of volunteer groundsmen”.
An ECB Pitches/Facilities Advisor and IOG Instructor, Andy Clarke brings a wealth of grounds management experience, both practical and technical, to the role from his career that began in 1979 when he joined Kings College, Cambridge, as Assistant Groundsman.
He has also been Head Groundsman/Grounds Manager at ICL Sports Club, Gravesend Cricket Club, Bishops Stortford Cricket Club, Winchmore Hill Sports Club and Shenley Cricket Centre.
Since 2008 (until spring 2009), Andy was engaged by VRA Amsteveen, city of Amsterdam Authority and the Royal Dutch Cricket Board (KNCB) as Head Groundsman at the national stadium. Additional responsibilities included staff training, facilities consultant and the preparation and enactment of a three-year rolling programme to develop the turf provision for cricket in the country.
Last winter he spent four months as acting Grounds & Gardens Manager for St Andrews Healthcare, Northampton (120 acres, 10 staff and a budget of £500,000). The brief was to examine the entire groundscare operation with the objective of increasing and incorporating the grounds and gardens within patient therapy.
Hi currently maintains a number of grounds in North London/Herts, the principal being Enfield where he was awarded the highest pitch marks in the Middlesex Premier League after only one season in charge. He has also contributed to projects as far afield as British Columbia and is currently involved in an exciting new development in Hungary.
Andy is an NVQ assessor in sports turf management and a member of the IOG/ECB Performance Quality Standards programme. He holds IOG National Practical and Technical Certificates as well as City & Guilds Sports Turf Management Level IV.
Also an ECB Pitch Advisor and IOG Instructor, Allan Moore says he began his life as a ‘turfie’ 18 years ago, working initially with Groundsman Industries (aerators) then going on to selling machinery and contracting on cricket, football, bowls, tennis, rugby grounds and golf courses.
In 1997 he became Head of Grounds at Wolfson College, Cambridge, carrying out major lawn renovations (mainly horticultural) and improving the gardens. Returning to sports turf in 2001, he joined Jesus College, Cambridge, as Groundsman.
Allan is accredited to NVQ 2, City and Guilds 3 and 4, HND and BSc level.
Published: 14/06/2010
