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SportsBorussia Dortmund hires award-winning greenkeeper Scott Tingley from Watford
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Borussia Dortmund (BVB) has signed Scott Tingley, an award-winning greenkeeper from English Championship club FC Watford, as their new Head of Grounds. Tingley, known as the 'turf pope,' will oversee the pitches at Signal Iduna Park, the Brackel training ground, and the Rote Erde stadium starting in October. His father was a greenkeeper at Wembley Stadium. Tingley's team was named the best ground team in the Championship in May 2025 and previously won the same award in the Premier League with Watford in 2017/18. BVB boss Lars Ricken expressed satisfaction with the signing, stating the club aims to improve in all areas. Former Bundesliga player Omar Traoré praised Watford's pitch conditions. Tingley received praise from Zlatan Ibrahimović and Pep Guardiola for his work. The move is seen as a unique transfer from Watford's 'Yellow Brick Road' to Dortmund's 'Yellow Wall.'
Source report
Dortmund – Borussia Dortmund is dipping into the Championship (English second division) and bringing in a spectacular new signing from FC Watford: a new turf artist for the Bundesliga club.
According to matching information from BILD and the Watford Observer, Borussia Dortmund has signed an award-winning greenkeeper. Scott Tingley is joining BVB as Head of Grounds and will start his duties in October.
Together with his team, he will be responsible not only for the pitch at Signal Iduna Park, but also for the fields at the training ground in Brackel and at the "Rote Erde" stadium.
BVB Boss Confirms Signing
BVB boss Lars Ricken (50) told BILD: "We said we want to improve in all areas, and we are very happy to have secured an excellent man in Scott Tingley."
A Family Tradition in Turf Management
Tingley is considered an absolute authority in his field. The profession of greenkeeper was practically handed down to him – his father already took care of the hallowed turf at Wembley Stadium as his main job.
Award-Winning Track Record
- In May 2025, the English Football League named Tingley and his team the best ground team in the Championship.
- He had already been honored with Watford in the Premier League: in the 2017/18 season, his team won the same award at the highest level.
After ten years at Watford, Tingley is now looking for a new challenge in the Bundesliga.
What BVB Stars Can Expect
Omar Traoré (28), a former Bundesliga professional (Heidenheim) who recently moved to Watford, told BILD: "I noticed it right after my move. The conditions here are outstanding. The pitch is really good."
Omar Traoré played in over 100 games for Heidenheim. Photo: picture alliance/Pressefoto Rudel
A Special Farewell from Watford
The Watford fan site "The Watford Way" bid farewell to the "pitch master" with a special tribute. For Tingley, it's going "from the Yellow Brick Road to the Yellow Wall" – from the famous access road to the stadium in Watford to the world-famous Yellow Wall in Dortmund.
In the fan podcast "Do Not Scratch Your Eyes," Tingley also revealed which compliments he was particularly pleased about: both Zlatan Ibrahimović and Pep Guardiola had explicitly praised the "hallowed turf" at Watford.
Source
BILD - SportWestern
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Borussia Dortmund Hires Award-Winning Greenkeeper Scott Tingley from Watford