The mower was supplied by local Ransomes Jacobsen dealer Burrows GM of Leyland and replaces the club's 30-year-old model.

It will be used on the outfield and was the choice of groundsman Peter Bailey.

Bailey said:  "I joined the club back in 1982 after 10 years at Old Trafford and the original Mastiff was here then. It has done sterling service for us, but it was getting very long in the tooth.  The ECB grant scheme has enabled us to purchase, what to my mind, is the best cricket outfield mower available."

Club chairman Tony Elwood said: "Without the ECB grant we would not have been able to replace the mower and we are grateful to them and to Burrows for providing us with such a great machine."

The machinery grants are available to accredited clubs or those working toward accreditation and to groundsmans Associations on behalf of member clubs as collective applicants.

Under the scheme a budget of £60,000 is available for the purchase of new or reconditioned machinery and applicants must contribute a minimum of 25% of the purchase value.

Contact the ECB for more details.

 

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