The pitch at the b2net stadium has finally been handed over into the care of the Spireites own groundsman, Anthony Haywood by Andy Stirr, consultant groundsman for Derbyshire based specialist pitch installers Pugh Lewis.
Andy Stirr, who runs Aster Garden Services, has already overseen pitch maintenance at several Premiership and Championship clubs in the close season.
He has nurtured the Spireites new pitch over the last nine weeks from first sowing through to its big test against Derby County last weekend.
Andy Stirr cuts the grass
Andy Stirr, picture above with Anthony Haywood (right) said: "This has been a labour of love for me but it's ongoing maintenance will be very different to Saltergate as it is a fibre sand based pitch of rye grass, which will need more regular watering, fertilising and cutting."
CFC groundsmans Anthony Haywood said: "Andy has done a great job and has given me lots of tips that should ensure it will be a contender for being the best surface in our league."
Job done, the pitch is fully operational now
Andy Stirr, who lives at Gleadless, Sheffield, has carried out pitch maintenance at the following clubs during the close season:- Fulham, Stoke City, Chelsea training academy, Sunderland. Coventry, Sheffield Wednesday and Hartlepool United.
He is a former greenkeeper at a well-known local golfcourse in the Sheffield area.
Exclusive interview with the two groundsmen coming soon in a special Spireites Player feature
