Joshua Baker's Passion for Cricket and Groundsmanship at Briton Ferry Cricket Club

''My name is Joshua Baker and I am a carpenter but currently working for a water treatment company as a Lead Water Technician. I was born and raised in Briton Ferry, Neath, South Wales. My dad is from Briton Ferry and my Mum from Cimla, Neath. My dad currently lives in Newcastle, NSW, Australia and my mum is in Briton Ferry so we are scattered all around the world a a family.''

''I have been a Groundsman since I was around 14/15 maybe and I'm now 30. I started off being allowed to cut the ‘rough’ grass areas around the ground by the older Groundsman and gradually moved onto being able to cut the outfield and then help out with the squares. My grandfather was a Groundsman at our original club (Briton Ferry Town CC) I was there for most of my life but moved onto pastures new down the road at my current club (Briton Ferry Steel CC). My grandfather was Chairman at the club and previously first team captain etc. I was the junior side captain and so was my brother who is 3 years older than I am. I went on to be second team captain for a few seasons and also went on to be Secretary, Vice Chairman also. I no longer play-  I seemed to be more interested in the ground rather than playing on it in the end. 

My family have had a huge part in cricket all my life with my grandfather being a big influence but my mum was also our junior team coach (she drove us to games in our mini bus) she is a life member of Briton Ferry Town CC. My grandmother and aunt were tea ladies along with my mother so every Saturday we were at the cricket. My uncle played for Glamorgan Cricket Club (Stephen R Barwick) so cricket has been in our family for a long time. 

I moved onto Briton Ferry Steel CC about 6 years ago or so maybe. I just felt like a change and took a project of getting the ground back to what it used to be. I’m currently a Committee Member at the club and am Vice Chairman. I can’t wait for the season to come back and it’s coming quick!''

''I’ve had the pleasure of using several Allett machines over the years, starting with the C24 at Briton Ferry Town Cricket Club (BFTCC). The C24 was an excellent piece of kit, known for its reliability and precision, and it made a significant difference to the quality of the ground. In fact, I’m fairly certain that BFTCC had an Allett mower before the C24, though I can’t recall the exact model.

Now, at Briton Ferry Steel Cricket Club, we’ve upgraded to the Allett Stirling 51 Sport which we purchased last season. This machine has been a game-changer for us. I’ve had the chance to use it throughout the winter months and while I haven’t yet prepared a wicket with it I’m really looking forward to putting it to the test in the upcoming season. Tim, David, and Neil, my fellow Groundsmen at the club, are equally excited to spend a full season with the Stirling 51 as it’s already proven itself to be a reliable and efficient tool.

The Stirling 51 is already proving to be an excellent investment, and I’m excited to see how it performs through the full season of wicket preparation. It’s been a long-awaited upgrade and the feedback from all the Groundsmen at the club has been overwhelmingly positive. We’re looking forward to seeing our wickets and square benefit from its continued use and I’m confident it will help us maintain the highest quality of play for years to come.''

''We decided to invest in the Allett Stirling Sport because we were in desperate need of an upgrade and after researching extensively through YouTube reviews and doing our homework it quickly became clear that the Stirling was the perfect fit for our needs. One of the key factors that sold us on the Stirling was its sustainability. With its zero emissions and fume-free operation we no longer have to worry about collecting fuel on a weekly basis or the negative impact of running fuel-powered machinery. The quiet operation of the Stirling is also a huge benefit, especially given that our ground is situated near residential properties. The noise reduction has made a noticeable difference allowing us to maintain the ground without disturbing the local community.

The cartridge system on the Stirling was another major selling point. While I had experience changing cartridges on the C24 it was a relatively straightforward process though not quite as simple as the system on the Stirling. The ease of swapping cartridges on the Stirling has saved us time and effort, making maintenance much more efficient. Additionally, the Height of Cut (HoC) dial is fantastic—especially when it comes to precise control over the depth of cultivation for scarifying and other key tasks. This added functionality allows us to fine-tune the machine to our exact specifications, ensuring we get the best possible results.

As we continue to improve the quality of our ground, we’re also considering an upgrade to our outfield mower. The Allett C34 is at the top of our list particularly with the option of adding a trailing seat and a Scarifier cartridge. Right now, I’m manually scarifying the outfield which is quite labour-intensive. After scarifying, we then use our Mountfield ride-on mower to collect the thatch. It’s hard work, but with the C34 and the Scarifier cartridge, we would be able to tackle the task much more efficiently and with less physical strain.  The difference in the finish would be incredible—imagine those perfectly straight lines and crisp stripes on the outfield! The level of detail and presentation would be a real asset, and I’m confident that upgrading to a cylinder mower would elevate the quality of the ground even further.

With the combination of the Stirling 51 and potentially the C34, we’re excited about the future of our club’s grounds. We want it to be a place every local cricketer wants to come and play at. These machines are not just about efficiency and performance, but about supporting our ongoing efforts to improve the quality of our pitch and outfield while remaining environmentally conscious and reducing our workload.''

 

Find our Stirling Sport here