GMA Young Board

GROUNDS PROVIDES CAREER GROWTH

Anthony Facey, current vice-chairman of the GMA Young Board of Directors, has worked his way from the ground up with his career. Starting in a volunteer position at the age of just 15, Anthony has gone on to fill numerous roles in the grounds industry, including positions with Whitgift School, Colchester United FC, Tottenham Hotspur and now with Tuckwells providing golf clubs with the latest turfcare machinery. With years of knowledge and experience behind him, Anthony can bring great insight to the board and its work and is eager to inspire the next generation to follow in his footsteps.

Why did you decide to get involved with the GMA Young Board of Directors?

I joined the board because I wanted to be proactive in promoting groundsmanship to the next generation and drawing more young people into this industry.

What’s your role on the board?

Currently, I’m the Vice-chairman.

What do you enjoy most about being involved?

It’s great being able to visit schools and make students aware of a potential career path that they might not have necessarily considered. There’s a lot of different opportunities in grounds, so being able to show them that is really rewarding.

What do you most hope to achieve?

The more people we can get interested in the industry the better. A lot of us wanted to be sportsmen when we were younger – footballers, cricketers, and the like, but that doesn’t always work out. It’s good to show the next generation of aspiring sportspeople that there are other work opportunities within the professional sporting environment that they can consider and get a lot of enjoyment and fulfilment from.

Where do you work and what does that involve?

I currently work for Tuckwells, a John Deere machinery dealer for Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Essex, Suffolk, Kent and East Sussex. And that mainly involves selling turf machinery to golf clubs around the southeast of England.

How did you get into the industry?

I started at my local cricket club when I was about 15, kind of by accident. I was playing cricket at the time and the two guys who were volunteering over there needed some help. I got involved in the school summer holidays to keep myself busy. Unfortunately, not long after the two stalwarts of the club, Barrie Keeble and John Wilson, passed away in quick succession and the club was left without anyone looking after their grounds. Myself and my twin brother took it over and started doing it. Even to this day we still go back and do little jobs for them. We’re not full-time there anymore but we’re still very much involved. 

What’s your advice to those thinking about a career in grounds?

You’ve got to be dedicated. It’s not a nine to five job and you’ve got to be willing to work with the seasons and all the different challenges mother nature can throw at you.

I think it’s important that in the early days when you’re trying to forge a career for yourself you get your head down, work hard, and try to speak to as many different groundspeople as possible. We’re a friendly bunch, even the big boys who are at the top stadiums – they’re always willing to help. If there's ever anything you’re not sure about or need advice on, just pick up the phone or head down to your local Grounds Management Association. There are also short courses you can do which are a huge help in learning the industry. On top of that, I couldn’t recommend getting in contact with your local pitch advisor enough.

What’s the best bit about working in the industry?

Definitely the people. Everyone is so nice and always willing to help. There’s a lot of people who have come through the ranks and are sort of accidental managers, but they’re the best people. They’ve worked hard and treat people really well.