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KEN REYNOLDS – GROUNDSMAN'S ASSISTANT By Phil Snow At half-time you might have noticed a chap going around the pitch replacing the divots. Well that man is Ken Reynolds and I caught up with him recently to find out what the job involves. Ken says: "I came from Holloway which is Arsenal ground and have supported Barnet in spirit since I moved here in 1976, always looking out for how the local club was doing. I met Greg Heald at a friend's wedding and after talking for a while found out that Barnet had a Norwegian Fan Club. I have had friends in Norway for 43 years and it made me think about going up and seeing them. Later on I found out that one of my friends was a Norwegian Fan Club member! After my first year of going to see the Bees Ron Sturges had just taken over as groundsman and I helped get the ground tidy for the Arsenal game. He asked if I would like to help him, so as I was retired and enjoyed gardening I started helping him by keeping the perimeter clear of weeds and keeping the pitch edge cut.
My first Arsenal game was at White Hart Lane when they played there after the war in 1946/47 as Highbury was damaged by a bomb at the clock end. I still meet my old club Arsenal and the players at the reserve games and have some good talks about the Glory days at Highbury with some of the staff who were players when I used to go.
Unfortunately Ken has been diagnosed with Aggressive, Advanced Prostate Cancer. In the past he's helped the Cherry Lodge Cancer Care, Barnet, with many charitable events, but never thought he would need it himself. Ken says: "They have helped me come to terms with talking and therapies, so I thought I would like to repay them by opening my garden at 7 Netherlands Road, New Barnet, on Saturday 18th June 2005, 10am till 4pm, to help raise money for them. We hope you can make it on the day." Update The open day went exceedingly well and Ken sends the following message:
All the money raised is going to Cherry Lodge Cancer Care, Barnet. Registered Charity No 1011629 . Update #2 The total raised finally reached £1131!
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I also put the divots back at
half time, but one thing's for sure though; it's a bigger
lawn than mine! So that’s how I got involved and
have enjoyed meeting the players and staff and would like
to thank them for the framed photo of the squad (see
below for full size picture).
I would like to add that I was
overwhelmed that Paul mentioned me as Ron's helper in the
final programme and it helps when you know that what you
do is appreciated, and also Ron mentioned me at his award
ceremony for Nationwide groundsman of the year."
(See below for full size picture.)
