The Grounds Management Association (GMA) inducted Andy Jackson, grounds manager at Stoke City Football Club, into the GMA Hall of Fame. This honor recognizes Jackson’s outstanding contributions to both professional and grassroots football over the past three decades.
Jackson has been a cornerstone of the grounds management industry, dedicating almost 30 years to ensuring the pitches at Stoke City’s bet365 Stadium and Clayton Wood Training Ground are among the best in the country. His commitment to the industry has earned him a reputation beyond Stoke City, including the recruitment by FIFA to manage pitches for high-profile international events such as the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Jackson’s impact extends far beyond the professional arena – for more than 12 years, he has been a driving force in improving grassroots football pitches across Staffordshire, providing invaluable support and mentorship to local clubs and volunteers. His involvement in grassroots football began with the early incarnation of the FA Pitch Improvement Programme (PIP) in 2012 and has since continued with the Pitch Advisory Service (PAS), formerly the Grounds and Natural Turf Improvement Programme (GaNTIP).
During this time, Jackson has made incredible contributions to the football community in Staffordshire, assisting in the improvement of around 65 grassroots football sites, equating to more than 150 pitches. His work has not only involved hands-on pitch care but also the preparation of detailed reports offering clubs actionable advice and access to his network within the turf maintenance industry.
“Andy’s induction into the GMA Hall of Fame is a testament to his dedication to the grounds management industry,” said Geoff Webb, Grounds Management Association CEO. “His passion, not only at Stoke City but also in grassroots football, has left a lasting legacy that clubs will benefit from in years to come.”
Jackson has been instrumental in supporting Staffordshire FA through initiatives such as CPD evenings at Stoke City’s facilities and by assisting with the delivery of pitch improvement workshops for volunteer groundskeepers. His willingness to voluntarily give up his time to share his expertise has made a lasting impact on the quality of grassroots football in the county.
“I’m incredibly honored to be inducted into the GMA Hall of Fame, especially during the Association’s 90th anniversary,” said Jackson. “It is a privilege to come to work here at Stoke City every day, where we take great pride in the work we do within the grassroots football community. To see the impact we’ve made together, improving pitches and the game for players at all levels, is really rewarding.”
