On this week’s HortWeek Podcast Stuart Mackley, head of grounds for Fulham Football Club's home ground at Motspur Park, explains how he found a career in groundscare through a love of football. As well as explaining what it is like at Fulham in the lead up to matches, Mackley relates what the team get up to in the off season which he says is “our busiest period…the most important”.The weather a significant impact on football matches and the condition of pitches – with high rainfall, high winds, extreme heat, and intense cold; Mackley explains what Fulham has in place to try and mitigate these challenges and how it has changed the way they work. Mackley also talks through some of the new systems he is keeping an eye on.Sustainability is of high importance at Fulham Football Club, but Mackley explains its not just a case of replacing all the petrol equipment with battery powered - and that it cannot happen overnight. Mackley talks about the challenges of retrofitting the club as it stands which Mackley hopes can be brought in when a new training ground is built.Mackley also talks through some of the new technology he has got his eye on, how he got into the industry and learnt everything from “arguably one of the best grounds people we’ve had in the industry”, Steve Braddock, as well as how Fulham attracts new talent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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