SGL Showcase Villarreal CF 2023

During this one-day event, our highly regarded (guest) speakers shared their knowledge and experience, we toured the impressive Estadio de la Cerámica, and of course, there was plenty of time to network and meet up with fellow industry professionals. The showcase revolved around sustainable pitch management, with a focus on LED technology.

Due to the impressive venue, inspiring guest speakers, and a great group of pitch management professionals; we look back on a successful Villarreal showcase. Villarreal CF, SAD recently invested in three SGL LED grow lighting systems, making the Estadio de la Cerámica the perfect stage for our event.

Guest speakers

Vicente Alpuente – Grounds Manager at Villarreal CF – Estadio de la Cerámica

Vicente Alpuente has been grounds manager at Villarreal CF since 2006, where he’s responsible for the maintenance of the pitch at Estadio de la Cerámica and all pitches at the training ground. The training ground, also known as Ciudad Deportiva Villarreal CF, consists of a 5,000 seater stadium, two grass pitches and two artificial pitches. Vicente is an internationally renowned groundsman, praised for his outstanding work at Estadio de la Cerámica in 2022 when he won the 2022 AEgreenkeepers Groundsman of the Year award.
He is a front runner in pitch management innovations, acknowledging the importance of data monitoring and grass grow lighting technology. Recently, Villarreal CF became the first Spanish club to embrace LED technology.

Benito Mateo – Head groundsman at Real Betis Balompié – Estadio Benito Villamarín

Benito Mateo has been a familiar face within the pitch management industry for a long time. He became known at international level during a qualifying match for Euro 2008, as the Spanish national team took on Iceland at Real Mallorca’s Son Moix stadium. Despite the constant rainfall, the pitch held up perfectly. Benito’s efforts to maintain a world class playing surface, despite the heavy rainfall, did not go by unnoticed. His career took him to many renowned clubs such as Málaga CF, Valencia CF, Inter Milan, RCD Mallorca and Hebei China Fortune. After his international spells, Benito returned to RCD Mallorca and recently transfered to Real Betis where he’s responsible for the stadium pitch at Estadio Benito Villamarin. Benito recognises the importance of innovation in pitch management industry and advocates the use of LED technology.

Benito González – Head groundsman at Cádiz CF – Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla

Benito González’ passion for grass arose at an early age. During his childhood years, he had his own football pitch on the family farm, where he loved playing football. From then on it was decided he would pursue a career in pitch management. After finishing his study in Agricultural Engineering, Benito traveled to the U.S.A. to expand his pitch management knowledge. After five years working as greenkeeper at Almenara Golf club in Sotogrande, he transferred to Cádiz CF to maintain the pitch at Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla. Since 2017, Benito and his team oversee the three natural grass pitches, and two artificial pitches at Cádiz CF, where he gets to work with state-of-the-art LED technology.