MICK Moore, United's stadium manager who has turned down the opportunity to join the groundstaff at Chelsea, has admitted that Denis Smith tried to lure him to West Brom as well.

Former U's boss Smith was a big admirer of the Manor pitch and Moore's ability to make it almost like a bowls carpet.

It's believed he made his approach soon after taking over at The Hawthorns.

Yes, Mick Moore has been in greater demand than a lot of United's players!

Mick will have a better idea next week whether he stands a chance of winning the Nationwide League Division 1 Groundsman of the Year award. He is currently on a shortlist of three.

Dr Stephen Baker, head of the Sports Turf Research Institute's soils and science section, will inspect the Manor Ground surface next Wednesday to make his assessment.

Last year Ipswich Town won the first division award while nearby Wycombe collected an award for Division 2. Moore's achievement in getting the pitch to such a high standard is all the more creditable because United also play reserve team games at the Manor.

"There are an awful lot of clubs that don't have their reserves playing on the main pitch," Moore said.

"To my mind, Arsenal is by far and away the best pitch in the country, yet they've been playing home Champions League games at Wembley and the Arsenal players aren't allowed to set foot on the pitch during the week."

Moore insisted that praise for the pitch should not be directed only at himself. His assistant David Wedge does a great job while the forkers also play their part.

He adds that the club help him all they can by moving reserve fixtures to ensure the surface is not played on too quickly before and after a match.

"I also get co-operation from the club. Mick Brown makes sure that, when we do have a Saturday match, any home reserve team games are moved back from the Wednesday to the Monday or Tuesday," he added.

Story date: Friday 19 March

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