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Post by petermcgee on Apr 7, 2016 18:19:20 GMT
Playing surface in the same condition, will try on Friday to Verti Drain later in the afternoon ( due to the weather conditions which will occur overnight and into the morning) if we leave it as late as possible to dry out with a bit of luck we should be ok, at least there is no rain forecast until Friday night, fingers crossed.
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Post by petermcgee on Apr 9, 2016 17:36:14 GMT
Everything went in our favour yesterday, Gary Wignall was working at Everton Finch Farm, when he was asked to leave, because of an Everton u21 game was being played, so he came straight to our ground to Verti Drain the whole pitch in 4 hours, that was a stroke of luck (to say the least) the weather was perfect which enabled us to prepare the pitch for the game on Sunday, with showers overnight I managed to mark out the pitch today (Sat) with the help of Stuart.
I would like to thank George, Marty, and Stuart, for their assistance over the past few days, you all did a great job, and to finish off the week with a tremendous result by Tommy and the team up in the North East at Blyth Spartans, well done lads, do the same at Darlington on Tuesday night !!
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Post by petermcgee on Apr 15, 2016 12:32:42 GMT
Worked on pitch all week, now in good condition for our home fixture V. Mickleover Sports on Sat ko 3.00pm, rain is forecast later today and overnight, clearing in the morning, to leave a dry day.
So I do not see any problem ( unless the rain is very heavy) but I think we will be ok, the recent Verti Drain has provided us with some help /insurance !! Thank you once again to Stuart and George for the hours that they have put in this week.
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Post by petermcgee on Apr 19, 2016 15:43:43 GMT
The weather has been perfect Mon/Tue to prepare the pitch for our last home fixture of the season V. Stamford tonight ko 7.45pm.
Brush/roll and marked out, very firm playing surface ( need a drop of rain !!) but at this time of the season what can you expect ? let's finish off with a win, then off to Whitby for our final game on Saturday, but it will not be easy.
Thank you to Dave for toiling away in the sun, he was getting a nice tan today in his half sleeve shirt ! but don't forget it will be cold tonight down at the ground.
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Post by petermcgee on May 29, 2016 10:42:41 GMT
The last week at the ground was very productive with regards to the pitch renovation, with Stuart and Tony cutting all the grass banking, then Stuart spreading 50 barrow loads of sand, in preparation for Saturday's excellent turnout of volunteers who did a tremendous job, I thank you all, it just makes everything a little easier when you have that sort of commitment from our supporters, it is really appreciated.
Sorry I was not there ( had to take Ann to Hospital ) but will be back on Tuesday, doing my weekly stint as usual, hopefully for good news on Wednesday re funding.
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Post by petermcgee on Jun 6, 2016 22:46:33 GMT
As we are five weeks behind schedule (last year we had a great start with the drill seeding completed, and the grass growing, and been cut) today I made a decision to call in Mallinsons to commence the restoration, which good fortune prevailed, as Gary Wignal was available due to Man Utd calling off his work for today.
The pitch was at last fertilised, and I sowed some seed down the touchlines, goalmouths etc, the next job will be drill seeding, sanding, then a Verti Drain, we should have some rain this week, so the timing today for the fertiliser was spot on.
Thanks to everyone who turned out once again last weekend, it was good to arrive at the ground and see all the work that had been completed, Les has made a very good job of the steps, what a bricklayer !! Anyone out there have any polythene type sheeting, that has a mesh type of finish ? that will cover the new seed, but allow rainwater through ?
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Post by petermcgee on Jun 8, 2016 20:02:47 GMT
The weather has been tropical so far this week, too hot sometimes to work, with Dave sweltering as he cuts and tidies up around the pitch edge, doing a great job.
The playing surface awaits a visit from Mallinsons to start the renovation work, we will have to fit into their schedule, and when I receive the phone call we can proceed, but unfortunatlely at this moment it is out of our hands. Tony found the scaffolding sheeting rolls, I will put them in place over the next few days.
I will organise a "To Do" list so that the weekend volunteers will know exactly what jobs need to be completed, for this weekend the "eyesore area" around the Club Shop needs to be cleared and tidied up, using all the paving slabs on site layed within this area, if there are a number of helpers on Saturday, this task will be made a lot easier, more hands light work, is the old saying.
Norman and George are repainting the goal posts etc, with the white wall in front of the main stand needing another coat of masonry paint, plus other painting jobs around the Stadium over the next few weeks. Bob has offered to do his usual watering job in the evenings (when it is a lot cooler) on the places that I have just reseeded, goal areas, penalty spots, touchlines, centre circle etc, to give us a start before the main drill seed takes place, we are now 6 weeks behind our usual schedule, so all the help that the supporters can provide will be much appreciated, once again many thanks.
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Post by petermcgee on Jun 13, 2016 19:19:35 GMT
Good news today, at long last the pitch was drill seeded, the problem now is that we only have five weeks to our first pre season friendly V. Accrington Stanley, which means that the playing surface will just be very fragile and liable to cut up (needs a lot longer than five weeks) but we will do our very best.
We now need to keep off the pitch over the next few weeks to allow the seed to germinate in time, the recent weather has been very favourable with all the rain and the humidity, which is perfect growing weather, let's hope that continues, and we will be ok.
Thank you for your weekend efforts, the clean up and paving in progress, has made a big difference, keep up the good work.
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Post by petermcgee on Jun 19, 2016 14:14:51 GMT
Thanks to everyone who turned up yesterday, Les, Kev, Bob, George, Ginette, Tommy, good day all round, just keep at it and we will get there in the end !
Watering system needs attention, few leaks around the pipe works ( need a large head 5 to 6 inch adjustable wrench ) to tighten up some joints, anyone out there have one ? please let me know asap.
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Post by petermcgee on Jun 27, 2016 11:20:23 GMT
Playing surface good colour, plenty of new grass showing, will have to cut this week when the weather is favourable ( on a high cut with the 21" Hayters ) anyone available to give me some assistance please ?
Well done to everyone who helped over the weekend, Les made an excellent job of the concreting !! it's very satisfying to arrive at the ground on a Monday morning to see that more work has been completed, thank you all.
Only three weeks to our first PSF, in two weeks time the goal posts will be erected once again, so help will be required ( Norman, new net's confirmed ?)
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Post by skemever on Jun 27, 2016 12:09:44 GMT
Hello Peter,
New nets will arrive by next Monday 4th July
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Post by petermcgee on Jun 28, 2016 9:56:21 GMT
Thank you Norman, that is good news.
The weather situation changed yesterday (in our favour) so I called George to see if he was available to assist with the first high cut, job done in four hours during the afternoon in which he passed his initial test as "Trainee Groundsman" with flying colours !! a bit bewildered at the end, but he did very well, many thanks George.
After walking 9.4 miles cutting the grass he said he will not have to go to the Gym anymore !
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Post by petermcgee on Jul 9, 2016 18:19:35 GMT
Good working week down at the ground, conditions have been excellent with regards to the grass growth !! 8 hour cut to playing height which nearly finished me off !! plus the Saturday help (in between the heavy showers) when more paving was completed, with Les doing a very good job with the home dugout astro turf insert (the players are well looked after at this club) then to complete a very good day, John & Mike assisted with the erection of the posts, plus the new nets, which look great, big thank you to everyone who turned up today.
We have only ten day's left before our first game v Accrington Stanley, so please do your very best to assist with the last few jobs remaining, I will mark out the pitch with the assistance of Nick this coming week ( when the weather is suitable ) then we will be ready for the big kick off.
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Post by petermcgee on Jul 14, 2016 16:22:10 GMT
Pitch improving by each passing day, marked out with the help of Nick, he did a very good job, along with Dave trimming all around the edge, and our top mechanic Tony "Spanner" Brown who replaced the drive belt on the tractor mower, many thanks to you all, greatly appreciated.
On Saturday there will be another "tidying up" session down at the Stadium, please do you very best to attend, it really makes a difference when we have a working group all pulling together for the benefit of the club.
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Post by petermcgee on Jul 17, 2016 20:36:35 GMT
Good turn out on Saturday, big thank you to everyone who turned up, it really makes a difference to the workload, pitch looking good after another cut by myself and George, who only made one mistake, but is learning fast !! (thanks George you did very well ) surface will be slit, with an application of sand applied, when the time is right during the next few weeks.
Will continue on Monday, and we will be ready for the first game on Tuesday night V. Accrington Stanley, with the weather forecast in our favour, especially Tuesday when it will be very warm/humid in the region of 28c possible.
Plenty of construction work to be started over the next few weeks, so everything is coming together at last, please do not forget to still come down and help out when you can.
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Post by petermcgee on Jul 28, 2016 14:04:32 GMT
Pitch in good condition, the light rain today has helped, just what I wanted, all ready for our Liverpool Senior Cup Semi-Final V. Everton ko 7.45pm, see you all later.
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Post by petermcgee on Aug 5, 2016 18:39:19 GMT
Good working week down at the ground, playing surface very firm after a 6 hour cut today, need some rain !! will mark out in the morning before our PSF v. Bala Town, if anyone is free tomorrow morning to help me to mark out the pitch, I would be very grateful.
On Sunday Tony will be slitting the playing surface pre our application of 20 tons of sand on Monday, this will be spread at the far end, and hopefully help to alleviate the problems that occurred last season !! also next week, a lot of jobs still need to be finished off, so if you have any time to spare please come down, your help would be appreciated, let's try and have the Stadium looking in good condition for the big kick off to our League campaign at home v Grantham Town.
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Post by petermcgee on Aug 8, 2016 12:07:11 GMT
What a difference a day makes ! on Sunday after toiling in the heatwave, the manpower that turned up made a huge impact on the overall appearance at the ground, just show's you what can be achieved when you get that sort of help, thank's a million !!
This week more work will be carried out, so if you are free, even just for an hour or two, you will be most welcome.
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Post by petermcgee on Aug 11, 2016 11:27:29 GMT
Managed to cut / strim the banking this week with the help from Stuey, Marty, and George, and Dave keeping the pitch edge trimmed, also spread 20+ tons of sand with the help of Tony, brushed it all in just as another downpour started.
Friday will be a very busy day cutting/ marking the pitch for our first home League game v. Grantham Town on Saturday, I am asking once again for manpower tomorrow as it will be hectic to say the least !! the weather should be fine, so please lend a hand if at all possible, big thank you to the above, who have put in a tremendous amount of work over the past few weeks, credit to you all.
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Post by petermcgee on Aug 19, 2016 10:11:25 GMT
Managed to spread the fertiliser on Thursday with the help of Tony and his great little ATCO tractor, just in time for the rain which is now pouring down (Friday) after a malfunction with our new spreader, (great to have a mechanic around !!) all done in three hours, should see the results in a week's time, the playing surface was in desperate need of some rain, also thank you to Dave who is relentless in keeping the pitch edge neat and tidy !
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