Paul Burgess (groundskeeper)
Paul Burgess | |
---|---|
Born | 1978 (age 45–46) Blackpool, Lancashire, England |
Nationality | English |
Years active | 1994– |
Known for | Turf management |
Paul Burgess (born 1978)[1] is an English groundskeeper who specialises in turf management of football pitches. He is recognised as the world leader in turf management, and has won five Premier League Groundsman of the Year awards and accolades from the Institute of Groundsmanship.[2]
Early life
In 1992, after realising he did not have the ability to make it as a professional footballer, a 14-year-old Burgess explored other avenues of becoming involved with the sport. He read an interview with
Burgess attended Montgomery High School in Bispham between 1989 and 1994. He then studied a three-year turf management course at Myerscough College in Bilsborrow.[2]
A Blackpool F.C. fan,
Career
Burgess began his career in July 1995 as an apprentice groundsman at Blackpool F.C.'s Bloomfield Road home, in Lancashire, England, where he was born. In November 1996, he moved on to become assistant groundsman to Steve Braddock at Arsenal F.C. between 1996 and 1999.[3][5] At 21,[3] he was promoted to being Highbury's head groundsman between 1999 and 2006, then at their new Emirates Stadium for three more years.[6] He continued his studies at Myerscough College via a distance-learning programme.[2]
In 2009, he was approached by Spanish club
FIFA pitch consultant
Burgess has been a pitch consultant for FIFA, football's world governing body, since 2004.
Personal life
Burgess became a father in 2010.[1]
External links
- "#TeaTimeTalks with Paul Burgess" – Semra Hunter, YouTube, 11 April 2020
References
- ^ a b c "From Blackpool to the Bernabeu" Archived 16 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine – BBC Sport, 2 September 2010
- ^ a b c Paul Burgess – Myerscough College
- ^ a b c d "The dream is Real for Paul Burgess at Real Madrid" – Pitch Care
- ^ "Former Blackpool man signs for Real Madrid" Archived 15 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine – Blackpool Gazette
- ^ "‘The Silicon Valley of turf’: how the UK’s pursuit of the perfect pitch changed football" – The Guardian, 15 June 2021
- ^ a b c "Englishman leaves Real Madrid after 12 years" – 24 December 2020
- ^ a b c "Paul Burgess, Director of Grounds & Environment" – Intelligent Play
- ^ "Spanish gardener or industry pioneer..?" – Turf Business, 20 June 2016