Having lived in a small village from a very young age, outdoor, rural life became second nature to me. I became involved in agricultural life and gained particular experience in the growing cycles of grass, and this is really where my career began.

At the age of 28, I answered an advertisement for an apprentice to the head groundsman at Coventry City Football Club. Through this, I received solely on the job, practical training, working directly with the head groundsman at the training ground at Ryton-on-Dunsmore. However, when he retired, I was lucky enough to be promoted into his job, and I am now in a position where I supervise two other workers at the training ground.

My job as head groundsman is extremely busy as the pitch takes a great deal of looking after to keep it in optimum condition for matches. The pitch requires general maintenance, rolling, marking, seeding and fertilising. However, needless to say, the weather always hampers my job and this can be very frustrating. I have to constantly check the weather forecast as the pitch has to be protected from any sign of rain. Needless to say, Teletext is a groundsman’s best friend. I am also required to stay at Highfield Road late at night after evening matches to make sure the pitch is still in one piece!

I have now been working here for 30 years and, apart from the unpredictability of the English weather, I find what I do very satisfying and enjoyable and do not have any immediate plans for change.