Interplay of weather, players and groundsman

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

Before joining KV Kortrijk, Brecht worked in the same position for more than 16 years. He began his career at SV Roeselare, where he was responsible for field maintenance for 12 years, and then spent almost five years at KV Oostende. 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 fields 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 field. 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 the grass becomes vulnerable to disease from external factors such as bad weather, poor ventilation or too little sunlight. One common disease 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 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 the summer, we mow the grass more intensively, while in the winter we are mainly busy 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 that the field remains in the best possible condition."

When it comes to inspiration, Brecht cites the Stadionveld Schiervelde, the field 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 surface and drainage of the field to make it more resistant to heavy rain and drought.

In addition to the physical maintenance of the field, Brecht works closely with KV Kortrijk's technical staff. Feedback on field hardness, watering and other aspects are crucial to keeping the turf optimal for training and matches. "I have regular conversations with the trainers about their preferences. It is important that the seven natural and two artificial turf pitches meet their expectations," said Brecht.

Life for grass

A groundsman's work never stops, and that requires dedication. "In the summer, you don't really have a social life anymore," Brecht says with a laugh. But despite the long hours and constant pressure to keep the field 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."