Langley School’s senior groundsman Phil Cook is reflecting on better quality sportspitches and less reliance on equipment hire after investing in kit that does four jobs in one.
When Phil joined the Norfolk co-educational day and boarding school 18 months ago to head up a four-strong team, most maintenance machinery was hired in to tend its 19-hectare grounds, a practice he had to change after he was told prices were rising.
“We looked at what we used most often and knew a versatile all-rounder such as the GKB Combitool would make a big difference across multiple areas of the site,” he recalls.
Working with dealer Ernest Doe & Sons, the school built a package of machinery including the Combitool for delivery last autumn.
The four-in-one Combitool has more than lived up to expectations, Phil reports. “It’s solid, reliable and easy to use, enabling us to brush, rake, roll and spike our 10 winter sportspitches year-round and our cricket outfields weekly in spring.

Raking up clippings “no problem”
“We had struggled to move clippings because of the scale of the site. Now, we can follow the mower with a single pass of the Combitool, rake up the clippings and leave an immaculately presented surface.”
The multitool had landed last October, just in time for Langley’s annual rugby festival, which attracts teams from across the UK. “With so many spectators and matches in a condensed period, presentation really matters. Running the Combitool between games was a real eye-opener. It lifted the grass, left a brilliant finish and helped us retain superb surfaces throughout the event.
“It has become our go-to implement and is raising standards so much we’d like to add more GKB machines to our armoury to bring other areas up to a similar level to ensure the facilities continue to meet the high expectations of students, visiting clubs and national tournaments.”
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