Stoke City FC Advances Sustainability with Full Switch to Electric Dennis Mowers

For more than three decades, Stoke City’s Grounds Manager Andy Jackson has been at the heart of the club’s pitch care. Beginning his career as an apprentice at the old Victoria Ground, he has grown with the club, becoming Head Groundsman around 2002–2003 and later Grounds Manager, a role he has now held for approximately 15 years. With over 30 years of service, Andy’s deep connection to the club makes him the ideal figure to lead Stoke City into a new era of sustainable turf management.

Today, that era is defined by a major operational shift: transitioning the club’s entire mowing fleet from petrol-powered units to electric Dennis models.

After every match, the recovery process begins immediately.
Andy outlines the detailed sequence:

-Before clean-up, the team will drag brush the pitch.
-Rotary mowers are used first to clean the surface post-match. With the electric ES-34R models we can start work as soon as the final whistle goes and not disturb the media teams undertaking their post-match interviews with players and managers.
-The pitch is then aerated, helping the surface “breathe” and remain stable between games.
-Finally, grow lights are deployed, giving the grass crucial energy through winter months and supporting plant recovery after heavy play.

This combination of cleaning, aeration and lighting prepares the pitch for Stoke City’s demanding Championship schedule while maintaining elite playing quality.

20 Years with Dennis: A Partnership Built on Reliability and Cut Quality

Around 20 years ago, Andy made the decision to switch Stoke City to Dennis mowers exclusively. “We wanted a company that was reliable, a company that was forward-thinking. The first thing is the quality of cut and we found that Dennis machines were ahead of competitors.”

That initial commitment grew into a long-term relationship that now extends across the stadium and training ground. Today, Stoke City operates 22 mowers, historically a mix of petrol and diesel models including Premiers, rotaries and G860s ( as of 12th May 2026).

The Switch to Electric: ES-860s, ES-36s and ES-34Rs

Stoke City is now in its fourth year of transitioning to electric mowing. On both sites - the bet365 Stadium and the training ground - the club now uses:

-Dennis ES-860s
-Dennis ES-36s
-Dennis ES-34Rs

Only four petrol mowers remain, and once they are replaced next year, Stoke City will be fully electric on the mowing side of the business.

Andy sees this as essential to the club’s sustainability footprint, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and modernising their equipment for future standards.

Noise, Comfort and Health: Major Wins for Grounds Staff

One of the biggest advantages of electric mowing is the dramatic reduction in noise and vibration.

“There’s very limited noise levels with the machines. Staff can work comfortably - no noise, no vibration and all these things are very important for the health and safety of staff.”

During his video interview for this case study, Andy notes that even with staff mowing behind him, you can’t hear a thing. This quieter environment greatly improves working conditions for the grounds team.

A Better Stadium Experience for Visitors and Events

Modern football stadiums aren’t just sporting venues - they’re business hubs, hosting corporate events, community functions and commercial activities throughout the week.

Previously, running four or five petrol mowers inside the bowl created significant background noise during events and we even had to stop mowing while these events were held which dramatically affected our work schedule especially with two games a week.

Electric equipment changes that: “Now there's no noise in the background at all, and it makes a big difference to the commercial department.”

This shift allows Stoke City to prepare the pitch while keeping the stadium accessible and pleasant for visitors, clients and partners.

Versatility With the Dennis Cassette System

Andy highlights the range of cassettes used on the G860 and electric equivalents — tools that deliver both precision and versatility. The same cassettes from the G860 and Dennis Premiers can be used in their electric equivalents.

-Spring rake cassette: used every 2–3 weeks to detangle grass and help it stand up.

-Brush cassettes: used periodically for surface management.

-Verticutter: used heavily from August through October, typically every 3–4 weeks, with adjustable depth and aggression.

Electric mowers elevate this even further:

“It’s very accurate with electric mowers… you can go as quick or as slow as you want and adjust the reel speed as well, meaning you can slow the forward speed of the mower right down when scarifying to be more effective”.

This enhanced control helps Stoke maintain consistent, Premier League–level surface standards in the Championship.

Support That Makes a Difference

For Andy, one reason he has stayed with Dennis for two decades is the after-sales support.

“Dennis have always been very forward-thinking. They’ve done things correctly, waited until machines were right for the end user and if we have any issues they’re out within 48 hours.”

That reliability -in both machinery and customer service -has built trust and consistency in the club’s grounds operations.

A Fully Electric Future

As Stoke City approaches the final phase of its mower conversion, the club stands as a model for sustainable innovation in professional sport. The move to electric:

-Reduces environmental impact

-Improves working conditions

-Enhances stadium usability

-Maintains exceptional pitch quality

-Strengthens a long-term partnership with Dennis

After 20 years of collaboration, Andy is confident in the club’s direction:

“I wouldn’t change where we are with Dennis as a brand. I’ve never regretted it.”
Stoke City’s transition to Dennis electric mowers isn’t just an upgrade - it’s a commitment to the future, ensuring that the club’s pitches remain world-class while supporting a greener, quieter and more efficient way of working.

Watch our video with Grounds Manager Andy Jackson here