Work to enhance the quality of the Brunton Park playing surface started in earnest on Wednesday, so we spoke to stadium manager Dave Mitchell to find out what he had in mind:
"First of all, shortly after the season ended, we shaved the grass a little bit closer so that it was easier for the machinery to take the vegetation off. We then did a couple of passes to remove 90% of the vegetation and to pick up all of the organic rubbish that had built up over the course of the season. We basically scratched it with grass harrows and then brushed it up to tidy it all up.
"We are putting a little bit of extra fibre sand in where the Ref's Assistant runs the line because we tend to lose a little bit over the season. As you will have seen, it leaves a bit of a track, particularly once the games start to come thick and fast. There were also a few holes in the goalmouths, so we've a little bit to add in there.
"Our next job is to spread about 30 tons of sports sand, which is a medium fine sand, over the whole area and then hollow core to about 3 inches. What we do there is pull out the sandy material and bring it to the top and freshen it up. Once that is brushed back in it will be really level and smooth, and then that will be seeded.
"We have used the same type of seed for the last three seasons and it's proved to be a good mix. It has various micro nutrients and fertilisers added and then it's left to grow. The whole job, including the tidying up, should be done by the end of Friday. If the weather stays like this we'll put the sprinklers on three or four times a day and that will complete the job.
"On top of all of that we have a fox that has decided to visit us to see if it can spot any rabbits in the Petteril End goalmouth, so we have that to contend with. Possibly it's after a job as our new mascot!"
