Behind the Badge - Martin Porter

Our Behind the Badge series celebrates the unsung heroes who help make Edgbaston so special.

matc

2023-10-14T10:23:41.000Z

Grass guru Martin Porter is part of the seven-strong team of grounds staff who prepare and maintain one of the finest sports surfaces in the country.

The former golf green keeper talks of his pride at calling Edgbaston’s hallowed turf his workplace…

“It’s really important you don’t shock the grass,” explains groundsman Martin Porter as a teammate mows strips of the Edgbaston outfield which, to the untrained eye, already has the finish of a snooker table baize.

“It’s a precise science. We’re not taking very much off, maybe 2mm. It’s better to take less off more often than more off in one go and you should never cut grass by more than half its height. So in the spring we’ll take a little bit off at a time until we get to the height we want.

“It sounds extreme but we’re all passionate about putting on the best possible surface for the players and for it to look its best for members, fans and a TV audience.”

Martin joined Edgbaston seven years ago having spent 26 years working in the grounds team at Lichfield Golf Course.

Matchdays can be 15 hours long and, thanks to the great British weather, a tough work out running covers and drying up.

But the 58-year-old wouldn’t swap it for the world.

“Matchdays start at around 7am. If the weather is OK we get the covers off, dry up if needed, prepare the wicket, do the footholds, cut the square and outfield, and the wicket will get a roll 30 minutes before play.

“We’ll also be rolling and brushing other wickets in preparation for upcoming games.

“At the start of a new season, when the pitch is looking immaculate, I’ll look around the place and think ‘I’m lucky to work here’.

“Someone once asked if it was artificial grass! I’ll take that as a compliment as it means the pitch is looking so perfect that people don’t believe it could be natural.”