A Talk with Brian Sandalls From Turf Care Blog
Recently, I had the pleasure of talking with Brian Sandalls who runs a turf care blog. Brian also works as a senior groundsman at Sussex Cricket Club. He also has lots of experience in working on different types of sports turf from golf courses to football pitches. Brian has won multiple awards for his work, which is one of the reasons why I wanted to interview him as I know he has a great deal of knowledge about sports turf and the associated tasks.
Don’t forget that we have a wide range of products on our website, ranging from lawnmowers, strimmers and brushcutters, chainsaws, blowers and vacuums and much more.
It’s always a pleasure to speak to people who are enthusiastic about their job and carry great knowledge which they are willing to pass down to others. We are fortunate in this day and age that we can document many of the processes that are carried out throughout the season on sports pitches. You can find more information on Brian’s website and his social media links that you can find at the foot of this blog post.
A Talk With Brian Sandalls From Turf Care Blog
YouTube Transcript
Hi everyone, it’s Roy Bretton here from GardenEquipmentReview.com. I’ve got Brian Sandals here from Turf Care Blog.
We’ll put the address under the YouTube video. Brian, I know I’ve seen you on LinkedIn, and I’ve liked and shared a few of your posts. I’m going to ask you a few questions about what you do because I’m always intrigued to see what other people are doing. I know you share quite a few tips about turf care, so how did you start your website in the first place?
Brian: It started under a different name in 2017. I was just writing about my everyday journey as a cricket groundsman. It was doing really well, getting loads of views primarily through social media.
Roy: That’s good.
Brian: It kind of grew, and people said to me, “Why don’t you cover multiple sports?” But at the time, I was just working at a cricket ground. Then, through a contact, because the views were doing really well, someone said, “We’re designing your website and a shop for free. It has thousands of pounds’ worth of potential. You’ll make a bit of money.”
I agreed, and they took 50% for four years, which they did. When I say “a bit of money,” I made nothing in those first few years. I gave everything back because there wasn’t really much in it. But there was enough to pay him off, and I got myself two websites. Then we transitioned into a turf care blog covering football, cricket, tennis, and bowls. It’s grown from there into a community of groundsmen and greenkeepers.
Roy: So, it’s become a blog where people can have a voice and write about whatever they want?
Brian: Yes, exactly. I edit their posts, add images of their clubs and grounds, and I also write reviews on groundskeeping machinery. We cover a lot of topics.
Roy: I’ve noticed that when I’m scrolling through LinkedIn. I’ve always had an interest in machinery and seeing what people do. I’ve seen different articles you’ve posted to help greenkeepers and others in the industry.
Brian: Yes, I try to focus on helpful content. Google may seem simple, but simple is good—showing people how to do things clearly.
Roy: Yes, and you also create videos to go along with the content?
Brian: That’s the way I’ve always done it. I only write from experience. If I don’t know something, I won’t write about it. I’ll find someone who does.
Roy: That makes sense. You should write what you know, and leave the rest to someone else.
Brian: Exactly. I’ve started blogs before and then realized I didn’t know enough, so I either partner with someone or just delete it. None of us know everything, but as long as you have a solid base of knowledge, you’re in a good place to write from.
Roy: Yes, and being honest about what you know is key. So, the motto of your website is to connect through social media, share blogs, and learn together as a community?
Brian: Exactly. We share knowledge, and I find that writing has significantly expanded my knowledge of my job and the industry.
Roy: That’s great. You mentioned earlier that you have two websites. Have you combined them into one?
Brian: Kind of. One is run by Shopify, which is the shop. If people visit the site, they can click on “shop,” and it takes them to Shopify, which is a secure platform that helps with invoicing and transactions. Since I’m a working groundsman, I don’t have much time to manage it manually, so it’s set up to run as automated as possible.
Roy: Does the shop generate much income?
Brian: Not really. It’s there as a service. Hopefully, in the future, it might support the blog long-term. Right now, the blog brings in a little money, but nothing significant. If I wanted to hand it over in five years, there would need to be something sustainable for someone to take on. The shop is the key to that.
Roy: That makes sense. So, going back to your website, can we look at some of the top-level categories?
Brian: Sure. The main categories are cricket, football, rugby, golf, and bowling greens. We also cover tennis, which is growing. I want to incorporate as much as possible, even gardening, since many sports sites have gardens.
Roy: That makes sense. I also see that you have a live jobs section and second-hand machinery listings.
Brian: Yes, we list jobs for free. I put two jobs on today. We currently have around eight or nine jobs listed. There are a few other job sites, but we offer a more unique approach. I also help connect people directly.
For second-hand machinery, we provide a free listing service. It’s primarily for grassroots users who want to sell equipment to fund new purchases. We have a disclaimer to protect ourselves, but so far, we’ve never had any issues. We keep a close eye on listings to avoid scams.
Roy: That’s a great service. So, the Product Hub—what is that exactly?
Brian: The Product Hub is where we collaborate with manufacturers. We recently worked with Dennis and conducted an interview about their machines. We source questions from social media, allowing working groundsmen to ask what they want to know. This provides valuable insights while also giving suppliers promotional opportunities.
Roy: Do you write independent reviews?
Brian: Yes, we try to be independent. We choose products that we know are popular within our industry, based on feedback from Facebook groups and polls.
Roy: Have you ever come across a product you didn’t like?
Brian: If a product was that bad, we wouldn’t feature it. We tend to focus on well-regarded products, but I have someone who writes those reviews for me.
Roy: And the Help Hub—what does that offer?
Brian: It’s mainly for the community. We have monthly guides, problem solvers, and an archive of community blogs. Previously, all this information was on the website but hard to find, so I reorganized it into a structured Help Hub.
Roy: That’s smart. Sometimes, even I have to go back and reference my own work.
Brian: Exactly. Even I refer back to my own site. When I write a blog, I put a lot of research and experience into it, so it’s useful to revisit later.
Roy: So, who is your website for? Groundsmen, horticulturists, gardeners?
Brian: Yes, and also lawn care enthusiasts. We get a lot of people looking for information about worms, weeds, and general lawn issues. I’d estimate that about 50% of our audience is in cricket, but we also cover other sports.
Roy: Groundskeeping seems like a satisfying job.
Brian: It is, but it can be frustrating when things grow back quickly! You put in a lot of effort, and then two days later, it looks untouched again.
Roy: Do you have future plans for your website?
Brian: The main goal is to keep it going and grow the shop. The blog doesn’t generate much income, so to ensure its longevity, it needs to be sustainable. Not many people would dedicate themselves to it as I have, but I want to set it up for the future.
Roy: That’s understandable. There are a lot of people interested in this field, so it’s great that you’re providing valuable information.
Brian: Yes, I enjoy it. It’s a unique source of information.
Roy: Regarding jobs, I’ve heard there’s a shortage of people entering groundskeeping. Do you have any apprenticeships or resources for newcomers?
Brian: Yes, we have a jobs subpage with links to apprenticeship directories. We also have connections with colleges and can help people get into the industry. Many start as apprentices, leave, and then return later. Salaries are slowly improving, but most people enter this field for the love of the job, not the money.
Roy: That makes sense. Finally, if people want to get in touch, they can visit TurfCareBlog.com.
Brian: Yes, and we’re on Twitter (X), Facebook, and Instagram as TurfCareBlog. We also have Facebook groups like The Cricket Grounds Person with over 13,500 members.
Roy: Great. I’ll add your contact details and social media links in the video description. Thanks for your time!
Brian: Thanks very much!
Get In Touch With Brian
Visit the Turf Care Blog website: https://turfcareblog.com/
Facebook: / turfcareblog
Twitter (X): https://x.com/turfcareblog
Instagram: / turfcareblog
Contact Brian directly via TurfCareBlog.com