pleased that the late autumn weather was being so conducive to growing. Each day, he'd been counting the leaves, he admits, and reckoned a couple of the pitches were near enough ready for play. The spec for construction was his, so he does have a 'growing interest', you might say. He was hoping for a wet and warm winter. He wants continuous growth rather than stop-start surfaces. This day, at least, was tailor-made for him.

Graeme Mills is the Head Groundsman at Staplewood, heading up a team of five, soon to be seven when the complex is in full flow. He and Andy have a good working relationship with all of the club's coaching staff, right up to the new boss Ronald Koeman. There are daily discussions concerning pitchconditions. This particular day was a day-off for the first team squad - they'd just earned a draw at Villa Park - but they would be at Staplewood training five days a week come rain or shine.

Toro triples do the cutting work at Staplewood. A Verti-Drain and Toro ProCore tackle aeration needs both at Staplewood and at the stadium. There's plenty of other kit and Andy is especially keen on his TYM tractor - an inexpensive, yet very effective workhorse, he says. For the next couple of months, dew brushing, divoting and light topdressing of sand would be repeat dosing for all the grass surfaces.

Andy makes mention of some industry contacts he turns to for help and advice, including local sales rep, D erek Cunliffe, and Mark Atkins