Episode 69

WORLD CUP TO GRASS ROOTS with KEITH KENT

Keith Kent has scaled the heights of his profession. He has presided over the preparation of pitches for the English Premier League, England football internationals, England Rugby internationals and the 2015 Rugby World Cup Final.

Keith joined Leicester City as a grounds trainee, and was later appointed Head Groundsman at English Premier League giants Manchester United.

In 2002, he changed codes when chosen by the Rugby Football Union to take charge of the pitch at Twickenham - the home of English rugby. Keith retired from Twickenham in 2019, since when he has continued his love of turf maintenance – but away from the spotlight.

This is a terrific episode with Keith opening up about the joys of turf management, weather watching, hosting an NFL game – and his part in attracting the Rolling Stones to play Twickenham.

Photo courtesy of Grounds Training

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INSIDE AGRI-TURF
The farm and grass machinery business

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About your host

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Chris Biddle

Chris is an experienced journalist specialising in the farm and grass machinery market. He has worked for a major tractor manufacturer and been a managing director of a farm and grass machinery dealership in the West Country.
In 1988, he launched trade magazine, Service Dealer followed by TurfPro in 1998, selling both titles to Land Power Publications in 2015.
He was editor of Landwards, the professional journal of the Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE) from 2008 until 2019 and is the recipient of the 2020 IAgrE Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Land-Based industry.
Chris lives in Salisbury with his wife Trish, and is an avid cricket fan and member of the MCC for over 55 years.