Manchester United Football Club’s (MUFC) groundskeeping team has been named among the winners of the annual Institute of Groundsmanship’s (IOG) annual awards.
The awards ceremony, held at stadiumMK in Milton Keynes last night (4 December), recognised winners in 19 different categories, with the MUFC team receiving the professional football grounds team of the year award.
It was a double sweep for MUFC on the night, as the club’s grounds manager, Tony Sinclair, was also given the groundsman of the year award.
Other award winners included the groundskeeping team at One Leisure in St Ives, Cambridgeshire (grassroots sports grounds team of the year); Everton FC (spectator sports ground of the year); and Worcestershire County Cricket Club (professional cricket grounds team of the year).
The grounds team at St George’s Park in Burton was given the award for providing the best maintained artificial pitch of the year.
Now in their sixth year, the IOG annual awards celebrate leadership, innovation and outstanding achievement across every aspect of groundscare.
Click here for more info on the awards.The full list of winners:
Volunteer of The YearWinner: Robert Stretton, Aylestone Park FC, Leicester
Finalist: Ian Williscroft, Potton UFC, Bedforshire
Most Promising Sportsturf Student of the YearWinner: Dean Bryce, Campbell Park, Milton Keynes
Finalist: Michael Crew, The Hurlingham Club, London
Young Groundsman of the YearWinner: Martin Stephenson, Ashbrooke Sports Club, Sunderland
Finalists: Josef Farrow, Oakham School, Rutland, Leicester; Alex Hudson, Nottingham Forest FC
Grassroots Sports Grounds Team of the YearWinner: One Leisure, St Ives, Cambridgeshire
Finalist: Beversbrook Sports Facility, Calne, Wilts
Best Maintained Artificial Pitch of the YearWinner: St George’s Park, Burton upon Trent, Staffs
Finalist: Hampton School, Middlesex
Environmental Project/Innovation of the YearWinner: Forest Green Rovers FC, Nailsworth, Glos
Finalist: University of Warwick, Coventry
Spectator Sports Ground of the YearWinner: Goodison Park, Everton FC, Liverpool
Finalist: Boldon Community Association Sports Ground, Jarrow Roofing FC, Sunderland
Sports School, College, University or Sports Club Grounds Team of the YearWinner: Harrow School, Middlesex
Finalists: The Honourable Artillery Co, London; Whitgift School, South Croydon
Professional Cricket Grounds Team of the YearWinner: Worcestershire County Cricket Club
Finalists: Derbyshire County Cricket Club & Warwickshire County Cricket Club
Professional Rugby League Grounds Team of the YearWinner: Wigan Warriors
Finalist: Castleford Tigers, West Yorkshire
Professional Rugby Union Grounds Team of the YearWinner: Worcester Warriors, Worcester
Finalist: Harlequins RUFC, Twickenham
Professional Horse Racing Grounds Team of the YearWinner: York Racecourse, North Yorks
Finalist: Ripon Racecourse, North Yorks
Professional Tennis Grounds Team of the YearWinner: Edgbaston Priory Club, Birmingham
Finalist: Nottingham Tennis Centre
Professional Football Grounds Team of the YearWinner: Manchester United FC, Old Trafford
Finalist: Burnley FC, Turf Moor
Groundsman of the YearWinner: Tony Sinclair, Manchester United FC
Lifetime Achievement AwardWinner: Derek Walder
Young Greenkeeper of the YearWinner: Stuart Imeson, Dunstanburgh Castle Golf Club, Northumberland
Finalist: Ben Evans, Altrincham Golf Club
Greenkeeping Performance of the YearWinner: Ian Kinley and team at Royal Porthcawl
Finalist: Scott Fenwick, Steve Chappell and the team at Gleneagles
Greenkeeping Achievement of the YearWinner: Edward Ainsworth, Avro Golf Club, Stockport
Finalist: Rhys Butler, Royal St David’s Golf Club
