Peckham Town F.C., a long-standing, community-based club, has invested in an electric rotary mower from Dennis Mowers as part of its ongoing commitment to championing sustainability and pitch excellence.
Founded in 1982 by then 13-year-old football fanatic Bryan Hall – who remains the club’s Chairman and men’s first team assistant manager to this day – Peckham Town has come a long way since its humble beginnings, and is now a widely respected presence within the grassroots game.
Built on a belief that every English town should have a football team at its heart, the club relies on its dedicated group of local community volunteers, who have played an integral role in establishing both its identify and infrastructure over the past four decades.
Looking back on the club’s origins, Bryan said: “As a kid, I went to the library and read a book that said ‘at the heart of every English town is a football club’, which made me wonder where ours was. So I decided to build one for the town.”
Residing within London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), Peckham Town has faced a number of growing environmental and logistical challenges in recent years, including the loss of its traditional minibus, which no longer meets emissions standards. This and other factors have accelerated the club’s commitment to adopting greener practices and more sustainable operations across the board.
Peckham Town’s investment in the Dennis ES-34R battery-operated mower is emblematic of this transition. While the club’s previous use of smaller, less advanced machinery has helped steadily shape the pitch into one of grassroots football’s most highly regarded, the introduction of professional-grade equipment marks a pivotal step forward in both performance and environmental responsibility.
Designed for fine turf maintenance and sports pitch clean-up operations, the ES-34R battery-powered mower delivers high-performance cutting and exceptional collection across stadiums, training grounds and managed turf surfaces. Powered by advanced lithium-ion battery technology, the ES-34R provides zero-emission operation, low noise levels and reduced hand-arm vibrations, allowing safe and flexible use in stadium environments, as well as during active training schedules.
“This is a massive upgrade for us,” Bryan explains. We’re a green club, we even encourage people to cycle to the ground, so having an electric grass cutter is a no-brainer. The noise is suddenly cut in half, the pollution’s gone – it’s just a wonderful machine.”
The ES-34R battery mower has delivered instant operational benefits to Peckham Town, with battery performance comfortably supporting the cutting of two entire pitches on a single charge, with plenty left over.
“I’d never used a Dennis in my life,” says Bryan, “but after three weeks, people think I’ve been doing it for years. The screen, everything about it, is so simple – it’s very, very easy to use.”
In addition to its investment in the ES-34R, the club has also purchased a Dennis G860 cassette mower, which offers enhanced versatility, allowing the club to maintain a consistently high-quality finish across the playing surface. Collectively, these machines have elevated the overall presentation of the pitch to a new standard, and the impact has not gone unnoticed.
“The minute people walk through the turnstiles, the phones come out,” Bryan adds. “They’re taking pictures, sneaking onto the pitch to check if it’s artificial, but it’s actually grass!
“We’ve got groundsmen coming along with the opposition just to see what we do. They’re asking what machine we’re using to cut, and I’m always happy to recommend Dennis.
“I’ve always admired other clubs with their Dennis machines, and now that I’ve got one myself, I’m elite. Suddenly, we’re amongst Barcelona, Real Madrid, Anfield, Chelsea…New York, London, Paris, Madrid…and Peckham!”
Megan Oliver, managing director at Dennis Mowers, said: “Peckham Town F.C. have been a force for good in promoting grassroots football – something that we are absolutely thrilled to be playing our part in.
“The club’s story is hugely inspirational, and shows just how much of an impact one person’s vision can have on their local community. It’s incredible what Bryan, and everyone else who has made Peckham Town what it is today, have been able to accomplish.
“We’re delighted that they’ve chosen to take their maintenance and environmental goals to the next level with Dennis. It’s great to hear how much of a difference these machines are already making, and we’re really pleased to see the team have started the new season in great form!”
