Pitch Perfect: Paul Thompson on Derby County’s Pitch Transformation

There’s something special about the smell of fresh turf and the perfectly cut stripes of a football pitch especially when it signals the start of a new era. That’s exactly what’s happening at Pride Park this season, where Derby County has unveiled a completely reconstructed playing surface. After a decade of service, the previous pitch had reached the end of its life, prompting the club to invest in a full rebuild over the summer.

To learn more about the project -and the man behind the grass - we sat down with Derby’s long-serving Head Groundsman, Paul Thompson, known to most in the industry as “Tommo.” With nearly two decades of experience at the club, he’s overseen everything from day-to-day maintenance to major renovations like this one.

Paul explains that the club first installed a state-of-the-art CIS pitch system ten years ago. While it performed well for most of its intended lifespan, the pitch began to struggle in the final season. It became clear that a full reconstruction would be needed to keep the stadium surface at the standard expected in modern football.

“The lifespan of the pitch was ten years, and we reached that point last season,” Tommo says. “The performance started to dip, especially the year before, so the club decided it was time to rebuild. The pitch was dug out by about four inches, rebuilt with new material, reseeded and then SIS came in to stitch it.”

The whole process took just 11 weeks from start to finish - a tight schedule, but one that the grounds team met with their usual professionalism. The first game of the season was played on the newly completed surface in week eleven.

Paul’s connection to Derby County runs deep. He began his career as a teenager, completing a two-year apprenticeship at Derbyshire County Cricket Club before moving over to Derby County. After a brief stint working on a golf course, he returned to the club and never looked back.

“I’ve been here 18 years now,” he says. “I started as an apprentice, worked my way through the department and eventually became Head Groundsman. It’s been a brilliant journey.”

Over the years, he’s built a team of 12 and helped lead them to significant recognition, including being named Grounds Team of the Year two years ago - a proud milestone that Paul credits entirely to the collective effort of his team.

One constant in Paul’s career has been the equipment - and in particular the trusted Dennis mowers that the club has relied on throughout his time.

“We’ve used Dennis mowers the whole way through,” he says. “They’re reliable, very universal and come with interchangeable cartridges so we can use one machine for a range of jobs. My favourite is the G860 -no question. We've got ten of them and all the lads enjoy using them.”

Beyond the machines, Paul values the strong relationships the club has built with Dennis and SISIS. The collaboration goes beyond sales and servicing including factory tours, site visits and even opportunities for apprentices to learn more about the machinery side of the job.

For Paul, the best part of being a groundsman is simple: being outside and seeing the results of hard work on a matchday. “It’s a great feeling when the pitch looks its best, and the stadium is roaring,” he says. “That’s what it’s all about.”

But it’s not always easy. The biggest challenge? The winter months.

“You’re always relying on the weather and trying to beat it, trying to stay ahead of it. Winter is tough but that’s part of the job. You’ve got to love the challenge.”

If he wasn’t a groundsman, Paul thinks he’d still be working outdoors possibly in farming or another hands-on, machinery-based role. “I’ve always enjoyed being proactive and working with my hands,” he adds.

Paul is passionate about encouraging young people to consider a career in groundskeeping. He sees it as a rewarding and often overlooked part of the sports industry -one that offers excitement, variety and a deep connection to the game.

“You’re outside, you’re working in a top sports venue and you get a real buzz on matchdays,” he says. “For anyone interested, I’d recommend looking into apprenticeship courses or heading to the GMA website to learn more about the job.”

While fans often focus on the players and the tactics, it’s the hard work of people like Paul and his team that make every matchday possible. From battling the elements to preparing a pitch that can handle the fast-paced demands of professional football, their role is vital and often invisible.

With a brand-new surface now in place, Derby County are starting the season with a strong foundation, quite literally- and with Tommo at the helm, the club’s pitch is in expert hands.

As the season unfolds, fans can be sure of one thing: come rain or shine, the team beneath the team will be working tirelessly to make Pride Park look its best.

Interested in joining the turf care industry?
Check out the GMA website for information on apprenticeships, training and career paths in sports ground management.

www.dennisuk.com