Suffolk-based Mark Harrod, who has more than 30 years experience as a manufacturer and supplier of sports equipment, is sponsoring the Award category for the second year in succession, following last year’s highly-successful inaugural Awards at the Emirates Stadium, London.
Commenting on his continued support, Mark Harrod says: “We are delighted to maintain our commitment to this valuable award which which recognises the dedication of all grounds staff to attain a high standard of workmanship, especially the support of the volunteer groundsmen who keep the grass roots teams in the game.
“As a company, we are committed to football from grass roots to professional levels, making us proud to sponsor this category."
Mark Harrod presented last year’s Volunteer Sports Groundsman of the Year Award to Ian Reid from
Vipers RFC, who said the IOG Awards “area way forward if the sector wants recognition”.
Mark Harrod, a leading specialist in goal post safety, manufactures a range of high-quality sports equipment, including football posts, rugby posts, hockey goals, team shelters and training equipment.
It supplies direct to schools, colleges, local authorities, contractors and football clubs of all sizes, and it sponsors grass roots events from the Staffordshire County Youth Cup to the Birmingham County FA Sunday Youth Cup.
The IOG Industry Awards comprise 16 categories of entry covering sport, grass roots, young people and the environment:
- The Groundsman’s Groundsman of the Year
- Spectator Sports Ground of the Year
- Independent School Sports Ground of the Year
- Best Maintained Artificial Pitch of the Year
- Professional Sports Grounds Management Team of the Year
- Public Sector Sports Ground of the Year
- Grass Roots Sports Ground of the Year
- Volunteer Sports Grounds Management Team of the Year
- Volunteer Sports Groundsman of the Year
- Most Promising Sports Turf Student of the Year
- Young Groundsman of the Year
- Environmental Project of the Year
- Employer of the Year
- Innovation in Grounds Maintenance
- Public sector outdoor facility of the year
- Lifetime Achievement of the Year.
With industry-recognised judges, each category will be judged on criteria which will include available resources, budget control, maintenance and use of machinery, presentation and housekeeping standards, technical knowledge, scale of operations and frequency of use, health & safety management, record keeping, environmental issues, community involvement and training & education.
Visit www.iogawards.com for full information, including category and entry/nomination details.
Published: 14/05/2010
