Ground Staff commended at 2023 Grounds Manager of the Year Awards

Kent Cricket’s Ground Staff once again received end-of-year recognition at the 2023 Grounds Manager of the Year Awards.

Adrian Llong & his team at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence received a commendation for the surfaces prepared in CT1 for Kent’s home white-ball matches in 2023, whilst Josh Marden, who leads the grounds team at The County Ground, Beckenham, was Runner-Up in the Awards’ Outgrounds Pitches Award.

---

2024 Kent Memberships are now on sale – be a part of Kent Cricket and guarantee your place at Kent’s home matches next season.

Buy Membership now

---

ECB Pitch and Grounds Advisor, Andy Mackay, said: “The standard of pitches in white and red-ball cricket continues to be very high overall and the competition for the top spots is exceedingly tough. The award winners deserve this recognition for the consistently outstanding pitches they have produced during the summer.

“The dedication, sacrifice and commitment of all of the grounds managers is beyond reproach and it is great that we can get everyone together to recognise the contribution they make to the game and to celebrate their successes.

“Yet again, every venue’s grounds teams have given their all to deliver pitches and facilities that allow the players to put on a thrilling spectacle for all of the fans who attended cricket this summer.”

Full list of awards winners:

• Bernard Flack Memorial Trophy (Multi-Day pitches)
  

  Winner: Lee Fortis (Kia Oval)
  Runner-up: Matt Merchant (Emirates Old Trafford)
  Commendation: Vic Demain (Seat Unique Riverside)

• One-Day pitches:
  

  Winner: Lee Fortis (Kia Oval)
  Runner-up: Richard Robinson (Headingley)
  Commendations: Karl McDermott (Lord’s), Adrian Llong (The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, Canterbury)

• First Test Match Recognition Awards:
  

  Richard Robinson, Headingley; England Men v Australia, 2023
  Simon Tremlett, Wormsley Cricket Ground, England Women vs Australia 2013
  Sean Williams, Seat Unique Bristol, England Women vs India 2021
  Scott Hawkins, Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton, England Women vs South Africa

• Outground Pitches Award:
  

  Winner: John Dodds (Scarborough CC)
  Runner-up: Josh Marden (Beckenham)
  Commendation: Nick Johnson (Blackpool CC)

---

Buy Membership now