Dave Brown has declared himself pleased with the progress as work continues on the Victoria Park playing surface.

Pools Head Groundsman and his team began work as soon as possible after last season as they removed all the old vegetation in readiness for seeding.

"It's going well so far and it's growing as quickly as we had hoped," Brown told us.

"The rain last week certainly helped it come along and, although we could do without the strong wind, in general the weather has been quite kind.

"I'm going to feed it later today and then I'll be aiming to give it a first delicate cut next week - that will really get things moving."

But having scooped the League Two Groundsman of the Year award last term is the work that Dave and his team carrying out setting them on the road for another award-winning surface.

"It's too early to say that but we'll be trying our best and keeping our fingers crossed!" he added.