Gloucestershire Grounds Keepers Association

The Gloucestershire Cricket Foundation Ground Keepers Association run workshops and provide development opportunities for Gloucestershire’s clubs and Grounds Keepers

The Gloucestershire Cricket Foundation Groundskeepers Association run workshops and provide development opportunities for Gloucestershire Clubs Groundskeepers

The Gloucestershire Grounds Association (GGA) has 3 principle objectives:

  • Improve pitches
  • Improve skills of groundstaff
  • Improve recruitment of groundstaff

Currently developing a more pro-active approach, the GGA will achieve these aims by maintaining a county-wide network of County Pitch Advisors (CPAs), fully-trained in the new PitchPower app, which will improve pitch reports and create an effective database of pitches and resources. PitchPower assessments will be required for the new Grass Pitch Improvement Fund (GPIF), of which more information will be released in the near future. Pitch marks from all leagues will be regularly reviewed by the GGA committee and, where applicable, the necessary support will be provided. In the near future, discussions will take place with GACO to achieve more consistency in the umpire’s marking process.

As the age profile of groundstaff increases, it is essential to recruit groundstaff by all available means. This includes offering opportunities to young players, male and female.

The GGA committee consists of the following members:

Sean Williams (President and GCCC), Eric Woodmason (Chair and Frocester), Phil Carter (Treasurer and Cirencester), Christian Brain (Cheltenham College), Ray Hazzard (Twyford House), Bob Park (Lydney), Adam Stuart (Dumbleton), Gareth Dawson (GCF), Richie Woodmason, Jason Hobbs, Graeme Balmer.

For more information or to get involved

The Grounds Association is looking forward to hosting workshops during the 2024 season across the county, which will look at a range of different issues recreational ground staff are faced with on a regular basis, weather that is repairing foot holes, bringing a pitch back for use later in the season or understanding fertiliser. If you would like to know more about the GGA, please contact Eric Woodmason
The GMA in partnership with the ECB have a new and updated Cricket Toolkit available on their website.

The new guide to Cricket Grounds Management is has a new look and new resources. From this page you can explore

  • New Cricket Grounds Maintenance Guide
  • New Health and Safety Toolkit

 

GMA TOOLKIT
Harry Watts / Club Development Manager

Harry Watts / Club Development Manager

Harry joined the team in August 2022 as our Urban Development Officer and was initially responsible for growing the game of cricket in the urban areas of Bristol and Gloucester. In April 2024, Harry was promoted to Club Development Manager where he now delivers on a number of ECB priority areas including Facility Development, Clubmark, as well as working with Local Authorities on their Playing Pitch Strategies.

In 2018, Harry graduated from Swansea University with a degree in Media & Communications and later gained a PGCE in Primary Education from UWE, having spent multiple years working in primary schools. At his local club, Thornbury CC, Harry supports in different areas, including being an emergency player when required!

Now in his exciting role as Club Development Manager, he is responsible for leading the team of club development staff and working closely with cricket clubs across the county to provide direct support with the aim of creating sustainable clubs for the future.  Furthermore, Harry leads youth competitions and the ECB Clubmark Accreditation and sits on a number of GCF Development Groups and Committees.

As a local Bristolian, Harry is a Bristol Rovers supporter and is a big all-round sports fan.

Email
07584 705646