Galpharm groundsman on how his team keep Huddersfield Town and Giants playing

Jan 20 2010 By David Lockwood

"Going from football to rugby is not too bad because we don’t need to take such care of the playing surface, but certainly going the other way round from rugby to football is much more difficult, as obviously the ball is played on the ground so the surface has to be as perfect as we can make it.

"Town’s manager Lee Clark has been very good with regards to the lads training on the field, particularly with their training ground at Storthes Hall being out of action because of the snow. They came in over Christmas and then had another session last week."

Storthes Hall is also under Redgewick’s jurisdiction, but work up there has been a non-starter recently.

"It has been impossible to do any work up there because it’s been heavily covered in snow and ice, although we are now back working on the field, and it should certainly be ok this weekend – provided, of course, we don’t have another heavy snowfall or big freeze."

One of the biggest problems during winter for professionally-run stadia is the surrounds, car parks, steps, etc, which is one of the main reasons matches have been called off over the Christmas and New Year period, and that is one aspect that is not part of Redgwick’s remit.

"The maintenance staff are responsible for clearing all the surrounds and making sure those areas are safe for the public, and they have done a terrific job during the recent cold snap," added Redgwick.

Away from the Galpharm, Redgwick is very well known in Huddersfield cricketing circles, having played most of his career with Skelmanthorpe, where he also looks after their ground at Lidgett Lane, which, as you might expect, always looks a picture.

For many years he was a vital member of the first team, and it only over the last few seasons he has taken to helping out with the Seconds, leading them to the Premiership trophy in 2008, and the previous year was honoured by the Cricket League when he was awarded the prestigious Lady Sykes Candlesticks, presented for outstanding service both to a club and the game in general.