Yorkshire team keeps footballers' feet on the ground

The Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI), based in Bingley, has overseen the preparation of 10 stadium pitches, including the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth, 32 training camps and 15 training sites in South Africa for the tournament.

Once the games are over, the STRI will also ensure the playing surfaces remain in pristine condition for years to come.

With four consultants and four technicians based in South Africa, STRI has provided guidance to more than 100 local consultants, contractors and groundstaff.

Operations director Richard Hayden said: 'STRI's brief was not only to deliver world-class playing surfaces for the World Cup, but to ensure the maintenance knowledge was in place locally to last well beyond 2010.'

While the local consultants were well-versed in preparing grounds for rugby, they needed plenty of advice about soccer pitches, Mr Hayden added.