The event will take place on Tuesday, 26 November, 2024, at Stamford Bridge in London, United Kingdom.
Stamford Bridge is one of the oldest football grounds in the UK and has been the home of Chelsea Football Club since their formation in 1905. Originally opened as a sporting arena on 28 April 1877, the Bridge was initially used almost exclusively for athletics meetings by the London Athletic Club. Over its history, the ground has transformed from a large oval shape to a modern stadium with all four sides close to the pitch, and it now boasts a capacity of around 40,000.
The pitch at Stamford Bridge is currently managed by Paul Burgess, Director of Global Sports Surfaces and Landscaping at Chelsea F.C. In 2005, while at Arsenal, Paul became the first in the world to use HPS lighting for full pitch treatment. Now, he is pioneering again as the first in the UK to treat a full pitch with LED grow lighting.
Paul Burgess might be the most renowned turf management specialist in the world. He won five Premier League Groundsman of the Year awards during his tenure at Arsenal F.C. before joining Real Madrid in 2009. At Real Madrid, he made a significant impact as the Director of Grounds and Environment. In 2020, he embraced a new challenge at AS Monaco, where he played a key role in developing and delivering their unique training facility at the new performance center. Since 2023, Paul has been back in the UK as the Director of Global Playing Surfaces and Landscaping at Chelsea F.C., where he oversees all aspects of pitch and landscape management at Stamford Bridge, Kingsmeadow Stadium, and Europe’s largest football training facility in Cobham, featuring 38 pitches.
In 2005, Paul was the first to purchase HPS grow lights from SGL to treat an entire pitch at Arsenal F.C. Now, 19 years later, he continues to lead innovation by being the first in the UK to treat a full pitch with LED grow lighting technology at Chelsea F.C. This advancement in Paul’s agronomy strategy allows the Premier League’s busiest pitch to host even more events, while enhancing turf quality, reducing energy costs and carbon footprint, and setting a new standard as the sector transitions to LED technology.
09:30 | Welcome & coffee |
10:00 | SGL presentation by Frank van Beusekom |
10:30 | Chelsea F.C. project by Charles Henderson |
11:20 | Coffee break |
11:40 | Panel discussion |
12:30 | Break |
12:40 | International NFL & World Cup 2026 venues by Nick Pappas |
13:30 | Lunch |
14:30 | Pitch visit |
15:45 | Closing presentation |
16:00 | Networking drinks |
18:00 | End of the programme |
Charles Henderson is the owner of OBI Sports, where he oversees Agronomy and Capital Projects, working with elite sports clubs and governing bodies to deliver top-tier sports turf surfaces and manage significant tournaments. Charles earned his bachelor’s degree in Turf and Turfgrass Management from the University of Central Lancashire in 2003 and has since gained over 20 years of experience in the industry. His career has taken him from New Zealand to the UK, working across various sectors, including the golf industry and the Premier League. Charles has been involved in numerous high-profile projects, such as Celtic F.C.’s mid-season improvements, Hull City AFC’s pitch reconstruction, and the upgrade of Birmingham City F.C.’s stadium and training ground.
Charles also collaborates closely with Paul Burgess on Chelsea F.C.’s Turf Masterplan, showcasing his expertise in creating and maintaining world-class sports surfaces. Charles continues to lead OBI Sports in delivering exceptional results for top sports organizations.
Nick Pappas is a leading expert in sports turf management, currently serving as the Field Director for the NFL, where he oversees field operations for all neutral site games, international series games, Pro Bowl games, and the Super Bowl. Known for his ambition and expertise in agronomy, field management, and stadium operations, Nick is a highly respected figure in the industry. He will also be involved in preparing multiple venues for the 2026 World Cup and is excited to share his insights with you.
Aaron Tong joined Hull City in 2016 and has worked his way up to Head Groundsman, a position he has held for three years now. He leads a team of eight groundsmen at Hull City’s MKM Stadium and training ground, where they manage the multi-purpose stadium, home to Hull City A.F.C. and Hull F.C.. Aaron and his team managed to get this high-pressured pitch last season to top-quality with the help of LED grow lighting technology. With a complete pitch renovation done last summer, Aaron and his team are ready to take on every challenge this season.
We spoke to Aaron earlier this year about the challenges he faces at Hull City, their commitment to sustainability and why the club chose to invest in LED grow lighting units. Curious to read his whole story? Read the full interview here. We’re very excited for Aaron to share his insights in person during our panel discussion!
Simon Gibson is Head of Grounds of Leicester City F.C. and with his team winner of the Grounds Team of the Season award for the 2023/24 Sky Bet Championship. This success follows the Grounds team’s honours at the Grounds Management Association awards earlier this season, where they were winners in two categories: Professional Football Grounds Team of the Year and Environmental and Sustainability Impact award.
Simon has been with Leicester City F.C. for over 25 years, starting as a Groundsman at Filbert Street in 1998. Since then, he has held various roles, working at both the training ground and the King Power Stadium, ultimately rising to his current position as Head of Grounds.
Phil Fifield is the Head Grounds Person at Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club and a member of the Board of Directors at the Grounds Management Association. In addition, Phil is frequently called upon by FIFA to serve as a Sports Turf Consultant for major tournaments, including the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. With 20 years of experience in pitch management, Phil has worked at clubs such as AFC Bournemouth, Portsmouth FC, Brentford FC, and Fulham FC. He is currently responsible for maintaining the 31,876-capacity American Express Stadium in Brighton and Hove.
The Millennium Hotel offers a memorable stay in one of the city’s most dynamic districts. The hotel is located directly at Stamford Bridge, making it the ideal location to stay the night before the showcase to make sure you’re right on time. Start your event day without any stress about traveling to the stadium and book your room for our special SGL rate. If you want to make use of this, you can indicate this in the registration form below. You will then receive a link from us by email to make your booking.
The rate will be 180 GBP (including VAT and breakfast) per room per night and will be valid until Monday, 28 October. Please note: limited hotel rooms are available, so first come, first served.