Cambridge United groundsman beat Beast From East, earned gong from Queen

IAN DARLER was man of the match the final time Cambridge United hosted FA Cup opponents Luton.

However that’s removed from the largest accolade that the Abbey Stadium groundsman has acquired in his 43 seasons on the membership.

In 2020, Darler was awarded the British Empire Medal for his lengthy service to the U’s and for his charity work. 

Beating the climate 4 years in the past in order that Cambridge’s League Two conflict with Luton may go forward was simply one other day on the workplace.

Darler stated: “It was the Beast from the East. 

“I used to be right here simply earlier than 4am. We put one floodlight on and utilizing a rubber snow plough I’d made myself over time, we cleared 200 tonnes of snow off the pitch earlier than 7am.

“However that was simply the beginning of it as a result of we needed to get the stands clear and all of the areas round, put salt down.

“To listen to the announcement, ‘Man of the match: Cambridge United groundsman Ian Darler and his employees’, was superb.”

However being informed he had been honoured by the Queen was an excessive amount of for Darler.

He stated: “Once I acquired the cellphone name, I believed it was a wind-up. 

“I did inform the chap, ‘Who the hell do you suppose you’re kidding?’ Since you simply don’t count on it.”

No-one on the membership or within the wider group would argue that Darler didn’t deserve the gong.

He was the youngest groundsman within the Soccer League when he took over on the Abbey Stadium in 1979 on the age of 19.

Darler acquired his first switch supply at his very first house sport as a result of the visiting Leicester board have been so impressed together with his pitch.

And in 1987, Coventry joint boss John Sillett pronounced the Abbey turf higher than the Wembley floor the place his aspect had gained the FA Cup months earlier.

However Darler turned down a transfer to top-flight HIghfield Street and a variety of others down the years.

He stated: “Cambridge gave me the chance and I believed I ought to stay loyal. 

“And, forgive the pun, I don’t at all times consider the grass is greener on the opposite aspect.”

The primary motive why the grass on the Abbey has (largely) stayed inexperienced is Darler’s devotion.

The multi-award-winning groundsman estimates that he has blagged supplies and gear value one million kilos from suppliers throughout his tenure, in addition to placing in about £30,000 of his personal cash.

Legendary U’s boss John Beck did successfully drive Darler to down instruments at one level, telling him the pitch was too good for his group’s fashion of play.

However Darler was quickly again after complaints in regards to the floor. He has a special tackle claims in former Cambridge striker Steve Claridge’s autobiography that he let the grass develop longer within the corners, beneath orders from Beck, to carry up lengthy balls into the channels.

Darler stated: “The pitch had been destroyed from them coaching on it and we have been left with a diamond form that was completely waterlogged.

“The one method they might play was with an inch of sand on it.

“The one a part of the pitch that HAD any grass was the corners!”

Watch whole Cambridge group copy Man Utd star Cristiano Ronaldo’s ‘Siu’ celebration after gorgeous Newcastle in FA Cup

Like all Cambridge followers, Darler loved the membership’s superb win within the final spherical at Premier League Newcastle when their Geordie striker Joe Ironside grabbed the one objective.

It reminded him of considered one of his favorite Abbey Stadium moments. In April 1984, a Newcastle group that includes Kevin Keegan, Peter Beardsley, Terry McDermott arrived needing some extent to safe promotion again to the highest flight.

Darler stated: “They have been virtually already celebrating once they acquired off the bus.

“For us to win 1-0 at house – Kevin Smith took the penalty, who was a Geordie – to disclaim them that with the group they’d then – unbelievable.”

Darler has dozens of nice tales and put the printable ones in his ebook “Life’s A Pitch”.

They embody how he grew to become concerned in charity work and why his present bid to boost funds for psychological well being service Shout is so near his coronary heart.

Cambridge gave Darler a testimonial in 2004 and he donated a few of the money to East Anglian Kids’s Hospices.

That led to him establishing Cambridge Charity Fundraisers and producing tens of 1000’s of kilos for native causes by way of sportsmen’s dinners and fishing occasions.

However in 2013, Darler had a critical accident at work that resulted in a number of surgical procedures and years of psychological well being issues. After considering suicide, he was recognized with melancholy and ultimately with Publish Traumatic Stress Dysfunction.

Darler returned to work totally solely in 2019 however his experiences have helped change attitudes inside the membership and past.

He stated: “We at the moment are no doubt among the finest golf equipment within the nation for speaking about and coping with psychological well being.”

This season Cambridge are supporting the Shout 85258 textual content message service by displaying it on their coaching equipment.

However Darler has gone additional, finishing a million-step problem and elevating £12,000 for the service.

Darler, who misplaced a buddy to suicide a 12 months in the past, stated: “The cash isn’t even the important thing factor. 

“I wished to get individuals speaking and what has occurred during the last three months has been life-changing. 

“If I may stop one different individual going by way of what I went by way of and what my buddy went by way of, that’s all I’m searching for.”

However at 62 Darler is just not searching for a brand new job, regardless of working days of 11 hours or extra as he combines his head groundsman function with being matchday security officer and stadium supervisor.

He stated: “I’ve simply renegotiated my contract and  it may maintain me right here till I’m 70.

“I really like the job. I really like most people in and across the sport. 

“I reside it and breathe it. My wife says I spend extra time on the pitch than I do together with her. 

“However that’s the job.”