Middlesbrough Football Club scores big with Toro's innovative irrigation system

Four pitches at Middlesbrough Football Club’s training ground at Rockliffe Park are seeing the results from improved accuracy, full coverage and the powerful control from a new Toro irrigation system.

According to Jack Cunningham, senior grounds supervisor, the growing-in process was the best it’s ever been, management and players, including the first team, have nothing but good feedback and the problems caused by having a windy site have become a thing of the past.

The club invested in the Accredited Supplier, Toro and their Lynx LAC control system, 54 Infinity sprinklers and 74 B Series sprinklers with Turf Cups in phase one of a project which will, in time, see another two pitches follow suit.

Here, Jack discusses the highlights of the new system:

“There’s a lot to like about this combination,” he says. “We’ve never had this level of consistency. The LAC system and being able to control the water application with pinpoint accuracy from a desktop or mobile device is a game-changer.”

Then there’s the B Series sprinklers with their trajectory settings, about which Jack says:

“We have a windy site and the B Series trajectory settings mean that’s now not a problem. They’re easily altered to counteract the wind and achieve consistent coverage. “We also love how using the back nozzle doesn’t affect the front nozzle and how we can use the same set of parts for the perimeter and in-field sprinklers. It makes life easy.”

As expected a highlight of the Infinity sprinklers is that they’re top accessible:

“Being able to take the top off, which is easy by the way, change the decoders, alter trajectories, all without having to dig the heads out and risk damage to the turf is very very good,” Jack explains. “On top of that, it’s possible to turn the sprinkler by hand and not damage the gearing.”

The club has found a winning formula through its partnership with Toro, as confirmed by Jack, responsible for overseeing the maintenance of the training ground. Jack underscores the simplicity of preparing surfaces for day-to-day training, highlighting the substantial benefits derived from the ability to tailor irrigation to suit the site's specific requirements. The incorporation of moisture control has proven pivotal, enabling precise water placement in desired quantities.

This strategic approach not only led to the best-ever grow-in but also facilitated subsequent maintenance, ensuring a consistently high quality for the playing surfaces. Jack's decision to opt for Toro was driven by the comprehensive support provided by distributor Reesink Hydro-Scapes. The effective performance of the trialed sprinklers, coupled with steadfast technical support and customer service, instilled confidence in Jack, making Toro the preferred choice for the club's needs.