Winners of the 2007 Groundsman of the Year Awards announced.

Hyde United boast the best playing surface outside of the Football League after the club’s James Skachill won top prize at The Football Association’s Groundsman of the Year Awards.

The Cheshire outfit, who play their football in the Conference North, were winners in the Step 1 and 2 category and James saw off competition from Matthew Rainey at Forest Green Rovers and Ebbsfleet United’s Peter Norton to claim the number one spot at The FA presentation lunch at Windsor Racecourse on Wednesday.

Tiverton Town were winners in the Step 3 and 4 category with Gordon Curtis winning the award for the Southern League Premier Division side while Malcolm Simons’ pitch at Combined Counties Football League Premier Division club, North Greenford United, was a winner at Step 5 & 6 level.

Gordon is a veteran of grassroots football having looked after the pitch at Devon based Tiverton for almost 25 years.

"We’ve really progressed as a club and I can remember when the playing surface here was nothing more than a cabbage patch," he said.

"Now we’ve got a smart stadium and a pitch that our team enjoy playing on regularly. I feel lucky that my hobby is also my job because being a groundsman is perfect for me. I love the outdoors, whatever the weather."

Completing the list of winners was Joe Wilson who picked up the Step 7 prize for his work at North Yorkshire’s Tockwith AFC.