HEAD groundsman Adam Witchell may be in need of some Dutch courage today when he gives a presentation on the merits of the Beversbrook Sports Facility in front of some of Europe’s top ground staff.

The 95-acre site in Calne was named the IOG (Institute of Groundsmanship) Grass Roots Sports Ground of the Year last year and is in line for national industry honours once again after being nominated for the same award in 2014.

Beversbrook is up against St Ives’ One Leisure centre and ahead of tonight’s ceremony at MK Dons’ stadium:mk ground, Witchell will be giving a presentation at an IOG conference alongside Stanley Park manager Pete Hussey, whose Chippenham-based facility won IOG awards in 2011 and 2012.

“I was alright about giving the speech up until yesterday. I think there’s a free bar so maybe that will help,” said Witchell.

“Myself and Pete Hussey will be giving a presentation and then there’ll be questions.

“It’s all going to be compèred by Mark Saggers, from talkSPORT, and there’ll be the head groundsmen from places like Man City and Man Utd.

“There was someone from FIFA there last year so there could even be a representative from the FA and UEFA.

“It’s great because I’m a head groundsman and Pete is a facility manager, so they can ask questions on both sides of things.

“I know that we’re supposed to be rivals but I think it’s great that we could have the last four winners from the same area.

“It’s brilliant to be nominated and hopefully we can bring the award back to Wiltshire. We hosted 1,200 matches last year and we’re past 600 this year already.”

Beversbrook has 15 football pitches, four tennis courts and two cricket outfields, as well as a multi-use games area, an archery range, a community hall and a pavilion.