Top turf man is talk of the town after thriller!

Three days before Phil Parkinson's side twice came from behind to overcome Stamford AFC 6-3 at the Weaver Stadium on Saturday, Temmen was named as the league's number one groundsmen at the Football Association's 2015 Groundsmen of the Year Awards.

Held at the state-of-the-art St George's Park National Football Centre for the third year running and now in its 14th year, last Wednesday's annual awards saw more than a hundred groundsmen honoured in front of their peers as they collected national and individual league awards and commendations from members of the FA’s Pitches & Facilities Committee.

Temmen, who was also "highly commended" by judges in the national competition at Steps 1-4, won by Simon Rudkins from the Ryman League's Hastings United, wasn't the only EVO-STIK NPL groundsman deservedly heading into the new campaign at the weekend with fans, players and officials singing his praises.

Last year's league winner, Loughborough Dynamo striker and groundsmen Kris Nurse, had to settle for third place this time around for his work at the Nanpantan Sports Ground while Stocksbridge Park Steel's Mick Grimmer was named as runner-up for the second successive season.

After the sky high standards they witnessed again in the EVO-STIK NPL last season, two more of the league's groundsmen were also "highly commended" by the competition's judges, Newcastle Town's Colin Spencer and Witton Albion's Peter Robinson, for the second year running, collecting the accolades for their horticultural skills at the Lyme Valley Stadium and Wincham Park respectively.

Fittingly, Nantwich Town's award-winning groundsmen was honoured on the pitch before kick-off against the Daniels by Nantwich Mayor, Councillor Andrew Martin, who represented him with his award certificate and trophy.

Proud Nantwich Town chairman Tony Davison hailed the award for the Premier Division club's groundsman as thoroughly deserved.

Davison said: “This is a fantastic achievement for Pete. It confirms his position as the number one in our league and one of the top groundsmen in Non-League football in the whole of the UK.

"Over the past year Pete has had several plaudits from visiting teams, including Nigel Clough from Sheffield United. This award is well deserved. He has prepared one of the best pitches in the UK and now has formal recognition from the FA for his achievement."

He added: “It was a pleasure to see Pete presented with the award. I know he is delighted and extremely proud to receive the recognition of his peers.”

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