Saturday July 4th Volunteer Maintenance Day
The Ultimate Stadium Volunteer Task & Tool List
Category 1: The Deep Clean Crew
- Task 1: Stand Sweeping & Jet Washing
- What to do: Sweep all debris, dust, and trash from the stands first, then follow up with a thorough jet wash to remove grime and bird droppings.
- Tools needed: Stiff outdoor brooms, dustpans, heavy-duty pressure washers (with long extension cords/hoses), and sturdy trash bags.
- Task 2: Rubbish Clearance Under Standing Stands
- What to do: Safely crawl or reach under the standing stands to clear out accumulated litter, plastic bottles, and old debris.
- Tools needed: Litter pickers/grabbers, heavy-duty puncture-resistant bin bags, and torches or headlamps.
- Task 3: Wash Sponsorship Boards
- What to do: Gently scrub down the sponsorship boards to remove mud, algae, and dust so the sponsors logos look pristine for match day.
- Tools needed: Buckets, mild dish soap (or PVC cleaner), soft sponges/microfiber cloths (avoid wire brushes to prevent scratching), and squeegees on extendable poles.
- Task 4: Dugout & Technical Area Polish
- What to do: Clean the perspex/plastic screens on the team dugouts, which often get cloudy, and wipe down the substitute benches.
- Tools needed: Window cleaner or plastic restorer, microfiber cloths, and squeegees.
- Task 5: Turnstile & Pay Booth Refresh
- What to do: Clean the windows of the ticket offices/turnstiles, wipe down the turnstile mechanisms, and clear out any cobwebs.
- Tools needed: multi-purpose surface spray, glass cleaner, and cloths.
Category 2: The Painting Crew
- Task 6: Bench Restoration (Old New Benches)
- What to do: Old Benches: Sand down old wooden/metal benches to remove flaking paint, splinters, and rough spots, wipe away the dust, and apply a fresh coat of weather-resistant paint or stain.
- New Benches: Give the newly installed benches their first protective/prime coat of paint or wood treatment.
- Tools needed: Sandpaper (rough and fine grit) or electric sanders, sanding blocks, outdoor wood/metal paint or stain, paintbrushes, paint kettles, and dust sheets.
- Task 7: Paint Entry Gates (White)
- What to do: Wire-brush any rust or flaking paint off the white metal entry gates, wipe them down, and apply a fresh coat of white metal paint.
- Tools needed: Wire brushes/sandpaper, outdoor white metal paint (with rust protection), paintbrushes (medium and small for bars), mini rollers, paint trays, masking tape, and old sheets/cardboard for drips.
- Task 8: Paint Stand Areas & Steps (Black)
- What to do: Prep the designated stand areas and steps, then apply outdoor black masonry paint.
- Tools needed: Outdoor black masonry/concrete paint, large paint rollers with extension poles, paint trays, and stirrers.
- Task 9: High-Visibility Step Edge Highlighting
- What to do: Once the black paint on the steps is dry, apply a high-visibility yellow or white line to the very edges of the steps to improve match-day safety.
- Tools needed: High-vis outdoor grip paint (yellow/white), painter’s masking tape (for crisp lines), and small rollers or precision brushes.
Category 3: Gardening & Ground Maintenance
- Task 10: Fence Line Strimming
- What to do: Strim the long grass, nettles, and thick weeds running right along the stadium boundary fence line where regular mowers cant reach.
- Tools needed: Grass strimmers/trimmers (petrol or battery-powered), extra strimmer wire, fuel/batteries, and heavy-duty trousers/shin guards for the operator.
- Task 11: Weeding (Inside, Outside & Sponsorship Boards)
- What to do: Clear out weeds growing along perimeters, paths, and especially around the base of sponsorship boards where overgrowth hides the branding.
- Tools needed: Weeding forks, trowels, scrapers (for tarmac/concrete cracks), garden gloves, wheelbarrows, or green waste bags.
- Task 12: Weed the Central Gutter
- What to do: Clear out all weeds, silt, leaves, and moss from the central entrance gutter to ensure proper water drainage.
- Tools needed: Narrow spades or trowels, stiff wire brushes, and buckets to collect the debris.
- Task 13: Main Stadium Signage Polish
- What to do: Give the main club sign at the front gates a deep clean and clear any surrounding overgrown branches or ivy so it’s perfectly visible.
- Tools needed: Loppers or garden shears, soapy water, and soft brushes.
- Task 14: Handyman Stadium Walk
- What to do: Walk the stands to check for loose bolts on plastic spectator seats, tighten them up.
- Tools needed: Spanners, socket sets, screwdrivers, and replacement bolts/seats.
Essential Gear Checklist for All Volunteers
Note: Remind everyone in advance to wear old clothes they don’t mind getting ruined by paint, grease, or mud!
- Tough gardening or heavy-duty work gloves
- Safety glasses (essential for jet washing and wire brushing)
- Sturdy, closed-toe shoes or steel-toe boots
- Sunscreen, sun hats, and plenty of drinking water
- A central First Aid kit (stocked with plasters, antiseptic wipes, and eyewash fluid)