Changing room chat: Hayes keeps Celtic Park on top

Published on Thursday 19 November 2009 23:02

CELTIC'S John Hayes has been voted IOG Scottish Football Groundsman of the Year for the second time in four years.

Celtic Park's head groundsman collected the award from IOG chief executive Geoff Webb, and David Carson, of sponsors Rigby Taylor, at the IOG Scotsturf exhibition in Edinburgh. The other SPL finalists were Paul Fisk of Aberdeen and Stephen Connelly of Hibernian.

In 2006, Hayes also won the IOG's Professional Football Groundsman of the Year award. The award is judged on criteria that includes available resources, scope of operations, presentation and housekeeping standards as well as technical knowledge.

"In addition to being very pleased at winning again against such tough competition, I must say that the award effectively also recognises the achievements of all the groundscare staff at Celtic Park – it reflects and rewards a great team approach."

The First Division title was won by Mark Farrell, of Greenock Morton, the Second Division award went to David Montador from East Fife, and the Third Division trophy was collected by Martin Gray, of Forfar.

Hair-raising idea grows on Paton

ERIC PATON reckons anyone stumbling across the television coverage of Dundee's ALBA Cup final on Sunday will feel they've tuned into a re-run of a 1970's football classic.

The Dens Park players have all grown moustaches as part of a charity initiative to raise awareness of men's health issues and Paton, who is sporting a rather impressive set of whiskers, believes the team photo from the final will be hilarious.

Paton is looking to claim his second win in the competition, having triumphed with Queen of the South in 2002.

Teachers give Henry a lesson

FRANCE'S sports teachers are feeling outraged by the manner in which their team qualified for next year's World Cup.

The sports teachers' main union said in a statement that Raymond Domenech's team advanced following "indisputable cheating" after Thierry Henry twice handled the ball in the lead up to William Gallas' crucial goal. The union objected to statements from the squad that sent the message; "the most important thing in sport is to win."