M
y adventure in the Far East of Europe and Western
Asia started in 2010. Initially I thought it would
be a simple 1-year contract; I am now on my fifth
contract and it seems I have turned into a nomad.
During this time, and luckily for me, I have
been working for some great footballing minds, including Tony
Adams (ex-Arsenal) and Gary Stevens (ex-Tottenham), Stanley
Brard (ex-Feyenoord), Fathi Terim (ex-Galatasaray), Yuri
Semin (ex-Dynamo Kiev) and many more.
So how has this time been spent? Facing challenges in regard
to training novice turf managers in the profession of grounds-
manship different and rather dynamic environments.
Gabala FC, Azerbaijan. From October 2010 through
December 2011, I worked to grow in and develop four sus-
pended water table, full-sized soccer pitches in Azerbaijan. I
also managed a number of artificial pitches, while hiring and
training all staff.
Jan. 12 through Dec. 12, Azeri Football Association and
Football and Sport Management (FSM), Azerbaijan. I devel-
oped and managed all match and training pitches for FIFA U17
Ladies tournament. I also trained all staff.
Jan. 13 through Dec. 13, SIS Pitches. I managed professional
pitches in Turkey (Galatasaray FC, Trabzonspor FC, Kasimpasa
FC and also one new stadium in Uzbekistan - Bunyodkor FC). I
also managed three stadium pitches in Turkey for the U20 FIFA
World Cup tournament. And of course trained all staff!
Feb. 14 through present, Gabala FC, Azerbaijan where my
duties include formal staff training and development of
Gabala FC stadium and training facility playing surfaces. So
far I have developed two additional new pitches. I also advise
another Azeri premier league team on their stadium surface,
Lankaran FC
A common theme in all my stops was the excellent work by SIS
(Support in Sport), a British company, in the initial construc-
tion of the natural grass pitches and their professionalism with
seeing the job through, no matter what the problem nor the
challenge. SIS built them and I grew them.
30 SportsTurf | June 2015 www.sportsturfonline.com
STARTING FROM SCRATCH
IN THE FAR EAST
FACILITY & OPERATIONS
■ BY PHIL SHARPLES
Gabala FC Project
Baku, Bakcell Arena
U17 Ladies World Cup
Galatasaray FC
Academy stadium Gabala FC
