Hindmarsh Stadium groundsman set for Adelaide United A-League season-opener against Sydney FC
HE’S never pulled on an Adelaide United shirt nor led a Reds training session. But Simon Sczesny was set to figure prominently in coach Marco Kurz’s pre-match plans ahead of Friday night’s A-League season-opener against Sydney FC.
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HE’S never pulled on an Adelaide United shirt nor led a Reds training session.
But Simon Sczesny was set to figure prominently in coach Marco Kurz’s pre-match plans ahead of Friday night’s A-League season-opener against Sydney FC.
The Hindmarsh Stadium groundsman was responsible for producing a pitch widely regarded as one of the best in the country and the scene of countless memorable moments in SA soccer.
He said preparations were almost complete to ensure the playing surface matched the Reds’ expectations as they bid to get their campaign off to a flying start.
“The anticipation coming into the first game is similar to the players and I get the rush in the build-up to the game,” said Sczesny, 201 days after the last A-League game at Hindmarsh.
“The last week I’ve probably been a bit anxious, because unlike other top (multi-sport) stadiums we actually have an off-season here.
“But when the surface is playing well it gets noticed.
“You know how the team wants to play, so it brings extra excitement when you see the team playing well out there and the fans enjoying it.”
Sczesny and his two assistants faced a challenging fortnight.
After the Sky Blues clash they had a week to turn the pitch around for the visit of Newcastle Jets, before hosting the FFA Cup final four days later.
The surface was aerated earlier this month to encourage grass growth and soften it, then fertilised to aid recovery between games.
At full-time in each match ground staff would replace divots and repair damaged sections of turf, before mowing the pitch up to six times in readiness for the next fixture.
Sczesny, who was employed by the stadium’s operators Adelaide Venue Management, monitored soil moisture and ground firmness via digital sensors in the turf.
He also adjusted grass cutting height — generally about 23mm — and watering according to the demands of Kurz and the Reds’ coaching staff.
“It’s about getting the pitch to recover between games so it can perform when needed,” said Sczesny, who irrigated the ground pre-game and at half-time to speed up ball movement.
“I then try to get feedback from the fitness staff on how the players pulled up or did they feel sore in their legs because it was too firm?
“It’s about trying to be consistent so every time they walk out here it’s the same as last time.”
Sczesny, 35, said the venue’s soccer-specific status made his job easier, but he enjoyed the challenge of helping the pitch recover following occasional concerts.
He took minimal comments from United players as a positive and got a buzz out of the mostly complimentary observations of supporters.
“Generally if you get feedback it’s if something is not quite right,” said Sczesny, who began at Hindmarsh in 2014 after 12 years tending to cricket pitches and bowling greens.
“But the Adelaide United players have been really professional, even when at times we haven’t been up to scratch.
“It’s funny because it’s just day-to-day for us, but you see the comments on social media about how sacred this place is to local soccer followers.
“The soccer community love being here and love the feel of the stadium, and I love what I do.”
United coach Kurz praised the quality of the Hindmarsh surface, which complimented his side’s style of play.
“You can tell it is one of the best grounds in Australia for football and we are very lucky to have this as our home,” Kurz said.
“It can be difficult in summer to have a pitch that is fast and not too hard, but for the most part it is a surface that we need to play a quick and attractive style of football.”
