Continued investment in the facilities at AFC Bournemouth has seen the purchase of two new LX401 compact tractors from Kubota.
With a Kubota ST401 already based at the club’s Vitality Stadium, the two new additions will be shared between the existing training ground and brand-new state-of-the-art training complex - where they’ll be key to executing the year-round maintenance on the four sand-based, desso pitch constructions.
The investment off the pitch appears to be paying dividends on it with the club, nicknamed ‘The Cherries’, at the end of one of the most successful seasons in Bournemouth’s history.
In charge of facilities is Head of Grounds Ian Lucas who is, currently, maintaining four sites assisted by a team of 11. In equipping the new 24-hectare training ground with its own machinery fleet, Ian explored all the options when it came to compact tractors – with Kubota proving more ‘compact’ than others…
“No groundsman wants to be putting more weight on their pitches than they need to – it’s critical to find the balance of retaining a low footprint but having enough lift capacity for all the implements we use” Ian explains.
“We compared a number of options in the mid-compact arena and found that not only was the Kubota specification better, it had a slightly higher lift capacity and was half a tonne lighter. When the competition indicated it was down to build quality, I told them I’d never had a Kubota break down on me!”
“Just like our ST401 at the stadium, the new LXs are incredibly comfortable to operate and have demonstrated their capability on a range of maintenance tasks at the two training grounds including aeration and regular drag-brushing.”
With time a precious commodity for the team, and the cost of materials ever-increasing, Ian made the decision to have all three tractors equipped with GPS systems. “Initially we thought this would be useful for seeding, where it can be difficult to monitor accuracy when passing on bare sand. However, we now utilise the technology to optimise our spraying and fertiliser programmes and improve efficiency on tasks that can otherwise be quite monotonous.”
The adaptations on the tractor fleet, together with all sales, support and service, is delivered by local Kubota dealer E G Coles. “We’ve always had fantastic back up from the team at E G Coles, particularly Andy Frost who always goes out of his way to help us out when we need information or assistance.”
Ian adds, “It feels like an incredibly exciting period for AFC Bournemouth. With the three Kubota compact tractors at our disposal, we’re in a much better position to deliver surfaces not just fit for the first team, but for players of all ages and abilities across the club, putting us in great stead for the future.”
