THANKS to help from the Football Foundation and Devon FA, Tedburn St Mary Football Club has taken delivery of its very own ground-care maintenance machinery.

The club is now able to take on the full responsibility of looking after its own pitches.

For many years, retired local supporter, Mr Charlie Risdon, has been using his own tractor to keep the long grass at bay and both he and his grass cutting equipment have been the lifeline of the club’s pitch care, but the time felt right for the club to finally invest in its own equipment.

Through the Devon FA’s “Total Pitch Care Package Scheme” partnered with Masons Kings (Garden and Agricultural Machinery specialists) the opportunity arose for the club to invest in this specialist equipment.

The very high cost of such machinery has meant small, rural football clubs such as Tedburn St Mary, seldom acquire the capital to purchase their own machinery.

Now, with the Football Foundation investing heavily into the provision of grants for the preservation of grass-pitches, the club’s dream has become a reality.

The club’s volunteer groundsman, Mr Guy Cochran, is now busy getting to grips with the new tractor, grass-cutting blades and aerator, all of which will greatly help keep the club’s two full-sized pitches and youth pitches in good playing condition and in preserving the pitches for future generations.

Dr Rod Hawker, Chairman

Tedburn St Mary Football Club