GROUNDSKEEPER Gregory Smith has made an indelible impact on Bermuda's sporting life.z$>

Mr. Smith has dedicated his entire career to grounds maintenance, first on a golf course, then at the National Stadium and the softball diamond at Bernard Park.

However, it is over the past three decades that Mr. Smith has played a pivotal role behind the scenes of our national obsession: cricket.

Mr. Smith works year-round as Janitor Groundsman and Chairman of Grounds and Building at the St. George's Cricket Club, Wellington Slip Road, St. George's.

In the exciting annual countdown to Cup Match, it is easy to forget all the tough preparatory work that goes on to ensure the tournament goes off without a hitch.

Here, Mr. Smith explains the intricacies of his job, his hopes for the future of the St. George's Cricket Club and, of course, the additional setbacks he's encountered this year readying the ground for Cup Match action after November's motocross races threatened to destroy the grounds for good.

Mid-Ocean News reporter CLARE O'CONNOR and photographer TONY CORDEIRO met with Mr. Smith last week to discuss his preparations for the 2003 Cup Match Classic - before vandals caused widespread shock by digging up the crease area at one end of the Wellington Oval pitch on Sunday night, giving officials an unexpected headache. But there was just enough time to put it right before the start of the big two-day match tomorrow.

Q: How far back can you trace your connection to the club?

A: Actually, I was born right here in the canteen in '54. My family lived here, before construction of the club was finished in '62. I remember the field used to look like a bowl, and the clubhouse was a wooden building. Now I live just across the hill from the club.

Q: Are you a cricket fanatic?

A: I'd call myself a St. George's supporter, but to be honest, cricket is not a sport that I really enjoy watching. I don't mind playing it, but I think it's a boring sport to actually watch. That's just the type of person I am; it doesn't really excite me. I play cricket now maybe once a year. I used to umpire right up to two years ago, but that's a thing of the past.

Q: Do you follow the annual Cup Match game?

A: When Cup Match is in St. George's, I never see it. I might see one or two overs, but that's about it. I've never sat down and watched Cup Match - I'm always working. It's very seldom that I go to Somerset. If I do go to Somerset, I usually end up in the bar!

Q: In November, motocross racing destroyed the cricket pitch at St. George's Cricket Club. Why was this race held at the club, and what exactly caused the damage?

A: The Government wouldn't let them have their race at the Base - they created such a mess last time with the monster truck rally. The motocross group made an agreement to put plywood and polyethylene down to protect the grass itself.

They put down chipboard - it's not even plywood. They probably put it on a quarter of the space they were supposed to. They were actually supposed to put it everywhere the trucks went and they didn't. It rained when they were bringing the materials in and that created a major problem.

The pitch hasn't been used for anything since then. We had to move the remainder of our football games and our whole cricket season to St. David's. In actual fact, it was the club committee who should've taken action against the motocross racers months ago. They were waiting around for an individual to come up with some money. What they should've done is take the group to court; they would've had a positive result.

Q: What has been done to remedy the situation since November?

A: A lot of rubble had been embedded into the field. We basically had to dig the field up to get the rubble out of there. That's what took so much time. We had to use a small backhoe. Six weeks ago, two-thirds of this field was basically just soil. They brought someone in to oversee the whole replanting and fertilising of the field.

Q: Are you concerned that the pitch won't be ready in time for Cup Match?

A: The pitch will be ready for Cup Match. The concern we have now is for a couple of patches on the field - they'll be ready three weeks from now. The wicket will definitely be ready by next week - it's the surroundings we're having problems with. But don't worry, there are a few tricks of the trade that we can use if things get a bit close.

Q: What is the most difficult part of your job as janitor/groundsman?

A: Wicket preparation is the hardest part of my job. Fortunately, this year, I refused to do the wicket. We had a dispute about certain things, and I felt the wicket was too time-consuming. This was an internal, personal incident. People have this concept that just anyone can do the wicket. In Bermuda, you might have eight or nine individuals who can prepare a wicket, and that's all.

Q: What exactly does your job entail other than preparing the ground? What other pre-Cup Match maintenance is taking place?

A: My responsibilities are the field and the building, in and out. Here at the club, I supervise projects. I'm here every single morning. Before I leave, I will find out what needs to be done and hand out instructions. If they need supplies, they call me and I arrange it.

At this time of year we paint the club inside and out, and make any other repairs. We're refurbishing the downstairs too. Early this week, people started to move in their stalls. All the trees had to be cut back, as the food stalls will be pushed up against the fences.

Q: Do your members contribute to the work that goes on behind the scenes here?

A: We'll make arrangements with a few members to do a project; if they can't do it we'll have to contract that out. As far as I know, there are 128 members on the books. To tell you the truth, it's like any organisation. Maybe ten individuals always come around when something's on. We rely on those individuals to get things done. Most members only come around for Cup Match.

Q: Do you think people realise how much work goes into Cup Match?

A: I've always been of the opinion that groundskeeping is probably one of the least appreciated jobs that I've come across. People expect things to be done, but they really don't care how it gets done or who does it.

People just take for granted that it'll get done. They don't understand how much work goes into it. You hear so much about the players, but you'd be surprised the amount of time people spend here in order for Cup Match to be successful. We have people who come here at 5.30 a.m. and work all day; they don't leave until 4 p.m.

They get a few dollars, but what they actually get paid is not enough for what they do. It amazes me how people can work so long and so hard. It's stressful, especially at the bars - you have people constantly calling at you all day. There are crowds of people five or six deep reaching over, trying to get something to drink. Usually we have six bartenders trying to operate, but it's chaotic. It's really something to watch.

Q: Do you have any horror stories from Cup Matches past?

A: Actually, I'm amazed at how well the staff generally cope with everything. Often, people's attitudes come out; people get frustrated for whatever reason, and take it out on the staff. I'm glad that we haven't really have any confrontations.

Q: Do you have any other jobs besides groundskeeping at the club?

A: I run a small landscaping company called Smith's Maintenance. In my personal business, this is the height of the season. You'd be surprised - everybody wants to have something done just before the holiday. It's a busy time!

Q: What changes would you like to see in the near future at St. George's Cricket Club?

A: I'd like to see the club actually build some apartments. We could consider it low-cost housing; we could build them right up the back and stand them up two storeys.

I believe the club has to be run as a viable business. We need to build and rent. Our main income outside Cup Match is the bar.

It does excellently, but as prices go up, people tend to come around less, as they can't afford that lifestyle. We have to look at other ways to create revenue, and expand to other avenues of money-making without solely relying on liquor.