The pitch at The Brewery Field is starting to take shape once again as the Club’s ground staff work hard behind the scenes ahead of 2025/26.

There’s been another big investment in the playing surface since the end of last season and Moors look set to again boast one of the best pitches in the division next term.

Head Groundsman Mark Sleightholme is delighted with the progress so far, given we’re only just in June, and is thankful for some friendly weather during the summer to date.

“We had no rain at all during the initial renovation work and that was perfect,” he explained.

“Once you’ve got the seed and fertiliser down, you want that little bit of rain which has started to come in the last few weeks, and it’s also been quite warm so that’s been a bonus too.”

This summer, the Club has targeted some of the areas that caused issues during 2024/25 with a deeper scarifying process to remove thatch and allow the water to flow downward more rapidly.

The pitch was then vertidrained down to a six-inch depth before it was then shock-waved down to an eight-inch depth.

Work has also been completed to install some 42 French drains which is an enhancement on previous years and should see an improvement during the new campaign.

“We do the same sort of processes every year, but we’ve gone further with things this summer,” Sleightholme continued.

“We’ve also used much more advanced equipment for the seeding operation before putting down 116 tonnes of sand and then the fertiliser.

“It’s still reasonably early but I’m over the moon with where we are. There are still some patchy areas but that’s to be expected and we’ve time to see those improve.

“I would like to thank Andy Purvis who scarified the pitch in three directions, shock waved the surface and then spread the sand and seeds. I also want to offer thanks to Stu, John and Cameron from Dunstanburgh Turf Contracting for the French drains installation.

“We’re also grateful to Alistair, the contractor who vertidrained the pitch, as well as our incredible group of volunteers in Jim, Mick, Kevin and James.”