You can often get an idea of the level of football about to be played on a pitch before a single ball is kicked. When there are haphazard tufts of grass and rabbit holes offering extra hazards, a net hastily strung to a crossbar with some fraying twine, or someone’s dad is using a broom to sweep excess water from by the corner flag, it’s probably not about to be a classic. More likely you’re at a grassroots game with just as much spirit and character as the pitch, but probably also about as much quality.
On the other hand, when the pitch is a shimmering carpet of crisp green squares and sharp white lines, without a divot or blade of grass out of place, a show is about to begin. The players are the actors and will take the applause, but the stage has been set by people like Lee Jackson.
Jackson worked at Manchester City for 33 years, and was Head Groundsman at the Etihad Stadium for the final 15 years of his tenure before departing in 2024. His time there coincided with the most successful period of the club’s history, which included eight Premier League titles from 2011-2024 and the second-ever treble by an English side. He now works at Sheffield Wednesday, where he looks after the pitch at Hillsborough as well as their training ground.
Jackson, a City fan, admits an on-pitch career wasn’t on the cards for him – but it’s satisfying to know he’s played his part.
“I’m very fortunate in my previous job that some of the biggest moments in Premier League history were done on pitches that I helped prepare.
“You become part of the success, like everyone behind the scenes – be it office staff, cleaning staff, maintenance staff – everyone’s contributing to the bigger picture. Where you’re not necessarily seen, you don’t necessarily need to be seen either, because you’ve got a job to do.”
Football fans will be familiar with the sight of a swarm of tracksuited grounds staff on a pitch at halftime, but their work goes far beyond that. ‘Varied’ is how Jackson sums up his job, explaining: “Two days are never the same.”
“You can plan ahead, but ultimately the vast majority of what you do will be dictated primarily by weather and secondly by fixtures.”
Grounds teams have to be prepared for possibilities like suddenly scheduled cup games, cold snaps, storms, and more. Though technological aids are much more advanced than they used to be, with things like undersoil heating and light rigs helping to mimic the ideal climate for grass growth, there are things outside the staff’s control. Good old Mother Nature can still have a say with the weather impacting duties like chemical or fertiliser application (rainy and windy conditions aren’t suitable for this). Jackson explains that they must be “proactive and reactive” to know how to best deploy the tools they have and ensure all their systems are working properly.
It’s about far more than painting lines and cutting grass, important though those things are. Jackson’s role goes beyond the aesthetic and into the scientific. He has to keep diligent records of chemical applications, as well as carry out soil analysis four to five times a year to ensure optimum nutrient levels and pH levels in the soil for grass growth and establishment.
“Quite a lot of it to a degree is data-driven, as well as experience and the visual aspects based on what you see day to day. There’s a lot of elements to take into account.”
How much difference do these details really make?
“The players, the coaches, the managers, etc, they want the best possible surface – needless to say, we do as well.
“Marginal gains is probably a good way to put it in terms of what we do – every team would always prepare their surfaces to suit the home team.
“You do get that buzz when they win… it’s just having that sort of pride in terms of you know you’ve prepared it.”
That pride is particularly evident when he brings up Sergio Aguero’s Premier League-winning strike in 2012. It’s a moment a lot of City fans will remember but as Jackson proudly sums up, he has a unique claim to it: “(Aguero) might have scored, but I did that big green thing that he stood on!”
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