We are delighted to welcome Stuart Webster to the club as our new Head Groundsman.
Our new Head Groundsman joins having worked previously at newly-promoted Premier League side Brentford FC, Championship side Queens Park Rangers and also National League South side Hampton & Richmond Borough.
After an interview process which involved speaking to three different companies, we are excited to work with Stuart and his team here at the EBB Stadium.
Following his appointment, Stuart said: “I got a phone call recently from the Club Chairman Shahid (Azeem) and he asked me whether I was interested in taking over the Head Groundsman job and after a successful interview process, I’m delighted to have been given the opportunity here.
“I’m looking forward to getting to work.”
With the renovation of the pitch at the EBB Stadium currently in progress in time for the start of the new season, Stuart is working tirelessly to work on and maintain our playing surface at the EBB Stadium to one we are all proud of, and in time for our first Vanarama National League home game of the season on the 21st August against Chesterfield FC.
“The surface is looking quite nice and it’s important to have everything prepared underneath to ensure they are able to kick a ball around on it!
“The progression has been brilliant and the time from renovation to the start of the season is very short indeed so we are up against it, but optimistic we can get things sorted in time.”
Unfortunately, in order to make sure we prepare the pitch as best as we can for the start of the Vanarama National League season, we have also had to relocate our planned Pre-Season friendly against Brentford ‘B’ on the 14th August, with more details to follow over the next week or so.
As a club, we acknowledge that due to poor weather in the month of May, all the contractors involved with the pitch were behind schedule, hence why the renovation of the EBB Stadium didn’t start until the end of June.
Despite this, Stuart and his team are feeling positive ahead of the new Vanarama National League season.
He said: “We’re hopeful of being ready for the first game of the season (against Chesterfield FC on the 21st August) and I believe the club have got plans in place just in case they’re not but only time will tell and we will do our best to ensure we’re ready to go.”
Following this transition of Head Groundsman, it also sees former Head Groundman Colin Wilson of TurfTonics move on after six wonderful years of support.
We thank both Colin and also Steve and James at TurfTonics for their service to the club during this time and we wish them all the best in the future as well.
