Definition of The Groundsman

Who is the Groundsman in the game of football?

The Groundsman is the person responsible for making sure the playing surface, or the pitch if you like, is fit and safe to play on.

The Groundsman looks after the soil heating and drainage and is responsible for pitch maintenance and repairs. The Groundsman also looks after the equipment used in the process.

In the off-season the Groundsman lays the pitch and nurtures it to prime condition in time for the first game.

Good groundsmen are valuable and clubs wanting top quality surfaces have to pay heavily for their services.

Paris Saint-Germain football club recently hired Aston VIlla's award-winning groundsman, Jonathan Calderwood, to make sure the Parc des Princes stadium pitch becomes one of Europe's best.