Having been Acting Head Groundsman for sometime now Mark Mathers was delighted to accept the role on a permanent basis when his predecessor announced he would not be returning from his travels.

Ably assisted by his team, and number two Liam Markie, Mark has continued the good work and ensured that the Moss Rose surface maintains its reputation of being one of the best surfaces in League 2, a fact commented on by Brentford boss Terry Butcher after their visit last month.

But with the onset of winter how is the pitch looking as we enter the busiest period of the footballing calendar?

Ready for the rigours of Winter

"We're really pleased with the surface at the moment," explained Mark. "We've got some excellent grass cover, and apart from a few areas in the six yard box which are starting to show signs of wear it is more than ready for the challenge of the next few months."

"Compared to last season, we are a million miles better. The Gaffer has been very supportive and apart from the odd light session at the Moss Rose, almost all the other work has taken place at the training ground. That wasn't the case last season, and I think you can see for yourselves the difference it has made to the surface. It had already started to cut up last December and there were a lot of bear patches down the centre of the field. Once that happens mid-season, there is very little you can do, aside from re-laying the whole pitch which clearly isn't an option for us."

"So we'll be keeping a watching brief over the coming weeks. Clearly the weather can have a big impact in how we prepare for a game. In the week leading up to a home fixture you are always looking at the weather forecast and trying to base your decisions on what they tell you. But as we know sometimes the forecast isn't the best."

"We put the covers on the night before the Dagenham game as it was due to hit minus four or five. In the end it rained so we were left with task of removing all the surface water. But at least we knew the game would be on as a result."

And what does Mark make of recently announced plans to look at a possible move to a new ground.

"Well a new ground certainly provides you with a lot more scope to do things. And from a professional point of view it would be great to get involved in a project like that from the start. So if the plans do come to fruition I would welcome the opportunity. The old place is certainly starting to creak a bit and requires a lot of regular maintenance to keep it up to standard. A new stadium would in theory be a lot more cost effective to run and maintain, whilst also enhancing the viewing experience for the fans and not to mention providing the club with more commercial opportunities to explore."

"But should the day arise when we do move then I will definitely miss the Moss Rose, for sure. It's been a big part of my life and holds a lot of memories. But I've never been one for standing in the way of progress."