THE staff who take care of the playing surfaces for Manchester United have won two top awards.

The staff as a whole won the Professional Football Grounds Team of the Year Award, while the club’s grounds manager, Tony Sinclair, lifted the prestigious Groundsman of the Year Award.

The awards were made by the Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) Industry Awards, held in partnership with the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA).

The Red Devils 30-strong grounds care team is responsible for caring for four sites covering 20 hectares, which include the Old Trafford stadium and the AON training complex at Carrington, as well as two additional training grounds that are used by the club’s academy teams, the Salford league and the local community.

Mr Sinclair said his team had desire and determination in abundance, and they adopted the latest and best pitch maintenance methods, underpinned by the appropriate training to produce the best pitches possible.

He said he was delighted to win the award at one of the world's leading football clubs adding: "It's the team’s most vital tool. If the pitch isn't right then the repercussions can be great.”

IOG chief executive Geoff Webb said: “This year’s winners demonstrate the high standards of groundsmanship within the UK.

"To win the award against such stiff competition is testament to the skill and dedication of the teams and individuals who - week in, week out in all weathers - make such a vital contribution to sport.”