John Ledwidge Leaves Leicester

[StanSP]

Confirmed our head groundsman is leaving to go to Man City. 

 

[Lesta2014]

He says underneath who it is taking on the roles. Think the bloke who’s got the head role has been at the club years! 

[Clarkielcfc]

Hoping we have some class patterns again this year… unless it’s banned in the championship too now…?

[Bert]

1 hour ago, Lesta2014 said:

He says underneath who it is taking on the roles. Think the bloke who’s got the head role has been at the club years! 

Yeah Simon has been at the club for a very very long time. Good bloke. 
 

A life changing offer for John, fair play to him and all the best. 

[bmt]

2 hours ago, StanSP said:

Confirmed our head groundsman is leaving to go to Man City. 

 

I've met the Everton groundsmen before and they described him as a pioneer and a genius.

 

Will be missed I am sure

[Foxinmarkfield]

I once organised a function at the club that overlooked the pitch. This was the image John created at the time. It was an absolute show stopper!

 

[justfoxes]

So Leicester’s multi award winning head groundsman has taken a new role at Manchester City he made our pitch look so amazing, was hoping this year we’d be allowed to bring back our intricate designs as the prem were a bit uptight about our fantastic pitches designs!

Good Luck John on your new venture now hope we get in someone as talented as him !!

 

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leicester-city-exit-confirmed-key-8644543

[AjcW]

Tell you what that is some role he's going in to. What an incredible opportunity.

This is what i've mentioned in other threads, it's actually nice to see someone head hunted and actually take a leap! Rather than be another captain comfortable.

 

John has left a great team and set up the brilliant turf academy too, so i'm sure we are still in good hands.

[Gamble92]

He's edited the Chat GPT template a bit more than the departing players did, i'll give him that.

[Wymsey]

Roma offered him a lucrative offer, as well, but turned it down.

 

He also said that Man City's pitches are 'years behind' Man Utd's.

Edited 1 August 2023 by Wymsey

[3 titles in 7 years]

3 hours ago, Lesta2014 said:

He says underneath who it is taking on the roles. Think the bloke who’s got the head role has been at the club years! 

Jobs for the boys, it's what this club is built on.

[Finnegan]

RUDKIN OUT 

[CosbehFox]

The groundsman gets PR comms better than the clubs communications director 

[HybridFox]

Proper Ledwidge if you ask me

[Stadt]

Probably the only department that can hold its head high over the past few years. Best of luck.

[Scotch]

It's amusing to praise a groundsman for the pretty patterns he can make on the pitch. Like buying a house because you like the curtains. 

 

Surely he's well thought of because of the condition he keeps the pitch in, creating something that's safe and good to play on.

[Jabfox]

Just seen on his twitter he is a fully qualified pilot as well!

 

All the best to him. 

[goose2010]

Had a good chat with him about 18 months ago and he was pretty honest. I questioned him on why the mix or grass and plastic we use compared to other Premier league clubs was different and why we seem to have taken the same sort of mix that is being used in NFL surfaces. Could this be the link to the amount of injuries we seem to get in training. 

 

He was pretty honest with his response but absolutely said there is no link with the mix of grass and plastic and the injuries we were getting. We use a mix or grass and 'slit flim' which is the same as Spurs a lot of of NFL teams. Research in America shows 2-3 times higher risk on this type of surface to pick up a non contact sporting injury. 

 

I guess there is a massive difference in the build of NFL players compared to footballers but its all well and good looking nice on TV or at Seagrave but we certainly used to see a lot less knee and ankle injuries back when there was some mud on the pitches. 

[urban.spaceman]

This actually feels like a really big loss to the club but I can't explain why.

[Collymore]

This is going to be controversial I know but I don't like complex patterns, club crests etc on the pitch. Nice straight lines are easier on the eye IMO and help with offsides for both officials and players.

[Oldblueyes]

Hope this decision is not part of any senior management think tank review. I for one cannot remember him missing too many penalties or open goals last season.

[Guest nathan.]

I’m actually a bit gutted about this.

 

A real professional 

 

Good luck John 

[RoboFox]

The KP pitch by the end of the season: 

 

[StanSP]

14 minutes ago, Oldblueyes said:

Hope this decision is not part of any senior management think tank review. I for one cannot remember him missing too many penalties or open goals last season.

I doubt it. He's clearly well respected in the game (rightly so) and Man City have the clout and reputation to take him and pay him what he deserves.

Its a step up in his career and fair play for getting the move. 

[HankMarvin]

Can’t wait for this season