Interplay of weather, players and groundsman

Brecht Descheemaker, KV Kortrijk's groundsman, is responsible for maintaining the turf that forms the basis for every match. Since January 2024, he has ensured that the pitch at the Guldensporenstadion is always in top condition, but his experience as groundsman goes back much further.

Before joining KV Kortrijk, Brecht worked in the same position for more than 16 years. He started his career with SV Roeselare, where he was responsible for pitch maintenance for 12 years, and then spent almost five years with KV Oostende. Speaking about his new role at Kortrijk, he says: “I am enjoying myself here. It's a big challenge, but I love the work. It never actually stops, the pitches always require attention from me and my team, which consists of another permanent employee and some flexi-jobbers.”

Frontline against stubborn street grass

One of the biggest challenges Brecht faces daily is the fight against street grass, a type of grass that grows quickly and is difficult to control. “By not addressing this enough for years, a lot of street grass has ended up on the pitch. Even with the best equipment, it remains a challenge to keep it completely under control,” Brecht says.

Besides street grass, disease stress is a major threat to turf. This is because grass becomes vulnerable to disease due to external factors such as bad weather, poor ventilation or too little sunlight. A common disease that Brecht faces is leaf spot disease, caused by fungi that cause spots on the grass. In addition, fusarium, another fungal disease, poses a serious threat.

“We try to prevent disease stress as much as possible by aerating the grass and keeping the mat open with scarification and cribbing, so that enough air gets into the soil,” Brecht explains. “However, once a disease strikes, I have to intervene with phyto-products to limit further damage.”

Aerating, sanding and mowing

Field maintenance varies greatly from season to season. Brecht explains: “In summer, we mow the grass more intensively, while in winter we are mainly aerating and sanding. Each season brings its own challenges, especially when it comes to extreme weather conditions such as heavy rain or drought. The seasonal changes require constant adjustments to ensure the field remains in the best possible condition.”

When it comes to inspiration, Brecht cites the Stadionveld Schiervelde, the pitch where Club NXT plays its home matches, as an example of a good surface build-up for a 100% natural grass pitch. His own future plans for KV Kortrijk include improvements to the pitch's surface and drainage to make it more resistant to heavy rain and drought.

Besides the physical maintenance of the pitch, Brecht works closely with KV Kortrijk's technical staff. Feedback on pitch hardness, watering and other aspects are crucial to keep the turf optimal for training and matches. “I have regular discussions with the trainers about their preferences. It is important that the seven natural and two artificial pitches meet their expectations,” Brecht says.

Life for grass

A groundsman's work never stops, and that requires dedication. “In summer, you don't really have a social life anymore,” Brecht says, laughing. But despite the long hours and constant pressure to keep the pitch perfect, he remains passionate about his work. For young colleagues or people interested in the profession, Brecht has one important piece of advice: “You really have to love it, because it is a profession in which you are constantly busy. But it is also enormously rewarding work when you see the results of your work.”