Football groundsman from across the Professional and National Game were honoured at The FA’s Groundsman of the Year Awards in Windsor on Wednesday afternoon.
Hosted by the BBC’s Ray Stubbs at Windsor Racecourse, the guest list for this year’s event included TV commentating legend John Motson plus 1974 World Cup Final referee Jack Taylor.
The FA’s Facilities Manager, Steve Williams, commented: "Our Groundsman of the Year Awards is a great way to start the new football season and we’re delighted to honour these hardworking groundsman from the full football spectrum.
"A good pitch isn’t just about money. Our judges were looking at the experience of the groundsman and the amount of time they spend on it, regardless of weather and budget."
The Institute of Groundsmanship’s panel of professional judges were also in attendance at Windsor Racecourse and included Darren Baldwin (Spurs), Dougie Robertson (West Ham Utd), Roy Rigby and Lee Jackson (Manchester City), Bruce Elliott (Reading) and Dave Roberts (Formerly Southampton, now Charterhouse School).
National League System
Step 7 and Below
WINNER: Peter Conroy (Liverpool CFA Youth)
Second: Joe Wilson (Tockwith)
Third: David Barker (Penryn Athletic)
High Commended: Steve Finch (Wells Town) & Paul Maddison (Millmoor Juniors)
Step 5 & 6
WINNER: Bob Stretton (Massey Fergusson)
Second: Glyn Rennocks, Clark Robinson & Ian Gowdridge (Coalville Town)
Third: Ryan Binns (Parkgate)
Isthmian League Award - Steps 3 & 4
WINNER: Bryan Hyde (Metropolitan Police)
Second: Alan Mitchell (Wingate & Finchley)
Third: Daniel Hunter (Boreham Wood)
Northern Premier League Award – Steps 3 & 4
WINNER: Richard Cale (Garforth Town)
Second: Phillip Varney (Belper Town)
Third: Peter McGee (Skelmersdale Utd)
Southern Football League – Steps 3 & 4
WINNER: Paul Kuhn (Brackley Town)
Second: Paddy Burton (Didcot Town)
Third: Peter Howard (Farnborough)
Overall Winner – Steps 3 & 4
WINNER: Richard Cale (Garforth Town)
Second: Phillip Varney (Belper Town)
Third: Bryan Hyde (Metropolitan Police)
Football Conference
WINNER: Eddie Broadbent (Bognor Regis Town)
Second: Nick Baldwin (Oxford United)
Third; Bob Mills (Bishops Stortford)
National Awards
Premier League: Paul Burgess (Arsenal)
Championship: Andy Gray/Graeme Mills (Southampton)
League One: Ewan Hunter (Nottingham Forest)
League Two: Richard Barnet (Shrewsbury Town)
Overall National Award Winner
Ewan Hunter (Nottingham Forest)
