First Team
Match Report | Rangers 1-1 Dundee United
23rd November 2024
Dundee United's head groundsman, Albert Dawson, has been announced as Scottish Football Groundsman of the Year, by the Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG). This is the first time such an award has been made in Scotland as until now, the competition has been exclusively for English grounds.
The pitches at all grounds in Scotland were initially assessed by the referees on a weekly basis throughout the season. These reports were added to the team managers' nominations for the best pitches visited in their respective leagues. This allowed a short list to be compiled, following which representatives of the IOG visited each ground to undertake further assessments.
Albert was awarded the divisional award for the Bank of Scotland premierleague and also the overall Scottish award. He will now represent Scotland in the IOG national competition.
Gary Mack, Chairman of the IOG Scotland & Ireland, said "We've been delighted with the interest shown by all clubs in the competition's inaugural year. All too often club groundsmen work tirelessly at pitches with little thanks. This competition gives them the recognition they deserve."
Alan Ferguson, President of IOG Scotland & Ireland and Head Groundsman at Ipswich Town added, "For a long time the groundsmen in Scotland have had to watch their English counterparts enjoy well deserved recognition from the competition in England. I am delighted to have been part of the team to roll the competition out in Scotland. All of the leading football bodies have helped to get the competition up and running but I would like to thank the referees in particular."
Everyone can see the improvement in the surface at Tannadice and Dundee United is delighted that the efforts of Albert and his team have been rewarded in this way.
The pitches at all grounds in Scotland were initially assessed by the referees on a weekly basis throughout the season. These reports were added to the team managers' nominations for the best pitches visited in their respective leagues. This allowed a short list to be compiled, following which representatives of the IOG visited each ground to undertake further assessments.
Albert was awarded the divisional award for the Bank of Scotland premierleague and also the overall Scottish award. He will now represent Scotland in the IOG national competition.
Gary Mack, Chairman of the IOG Scotland & Ireland, said "We've been delighted with the interest shown by all clubs in the competition's inaugural year. All too often club groundsmen work tirelessly at pitches with little thanks. This competition gives them the recognition they deserve."
Alan Ferguson, President of IOG Scotland & Ireland and Head Groundsman at Ipswich Town added, "For a long time the groundsmen in Scotland have had to watch their English counterparts enjoy well deserved recognition from the competition in England. I am delighted to have been part of the team to roll the competition out in Scotland. All of the leading football bodies have helped to get the competition up and running but I would like to thank the referees in particular."
Everyone can see the improvement in the surface at Tannadice and Dundee United is delighted that the efforts of Albert and his team have been rewarded in this way.
