Job description:

Derby County are seeking to recruit an Apprentice Groundsperson to join the Stadium Control Department at Pride Park Stadium and Moor Farm Training Centre.

 

Working for Derby County Football Club offers a unique opportunity to be part of one of England’s most historic and passionately supported clubs. With a proud legacy, a dedicated fan base, and an exciting vision for the future, Derby County offers a dynamic and rewarding work environment both on and off the pitch. Whether you're joining the team in coaching, administration, marketing, or operations, you'll be contributing to a culture rooted in ambition, community, and progress. Employees benefit from a collaborative work environment and opportunities for professional development.

 

The successful candidate should have an eye for detail and a passion to learn and develop within all areas of pitch maintenance and will Work under the direction of the Safety & Operations Manager and Head Groundsperson to develop and maintain Derby County Football Club’s pitches and other Club owned land and grounds in line with the high standards expected by Squad Management and Directors of the Club.

 

Key Role Responsibilities:

• Ensure that the Club pitches are maintained to the highest standards achievable.
• Ensure that the Head Groundsperson and Safety & Operations Manager are kept informed of progress with routine work and are notified of major issues as soon as they are identified.
• To support the Stadium Maintenance Engineer with pre and post-match checks as required.
• To undertake any other duties as may reasonably be required at the instruction of the Safety & Operations Manager or a member of the Senior Executive Team.
• Day to day operational duties will include physical activities and operating machinery including;
• Mowing grass using ride on mowers
• Marking out using white lining
• Driving tractors with and without cabs
• Moving frost covers in the winter
• Chemical spraying using a backpack sprayer
• Hedge trimming and collection of the debris
• Use of strimmer with aid of harness
• Moving of goals around the training ground
• Rolling and spiking of pitches and adjacent areas
• Moving hoses and sprinklers to irrigate pitches
• Checking of nets and the safe weighting of goals
• Coupling up of trailers and other equipment to the back of tractors
• Ensure that safe systems of work and safe working practices are maintained at all times
• To undertake any other duties that may be required in preparation for a home match at Pride Park Stadium at the instruction of the Safety & Operations Manager or a member of the Senior Executive Team.
• To be responsible for the health, safety and welfare of customers and colleagues, complying with health and safety guidance and policy.
• Continuously work to maintain, embed and improve the club’s safeguarding provision, ensuring the highest standards for safeguarding children and adults at risk.
• To uphold and promote organisational policies and procedures, promoting those specifically applicable to this area of work and also including equality, diversity and inclusion.
• To present and promote an appropriate public image in representing the organisation.
• To undertake any other duties as may reasonably be required commensurate with the post.

 

Personal characteristics and experience:

• Confident, Resilient and Self Motivated
• Sound knowledge of current health and safety legislation
• Exceptional customer service skills
• Ability to work in a fast paced, target driven environment
• Ability to prioritise and manage own workload
• Ability to be flexible
• Work using own initiative and as part of a team
• Previous experience of executing a variety of general ground maintenance duties
• Experience of using garden tools and electrical gardening equipment
• Previous experience of operating heavy machinery, specifically tractors, mowers

 

Qualifications:

Essential

• Maths and English to at least Grade C or above, or equivalent

 

Desirable

• Working towards NVQ Level 2 Sports Turf Maintenance

 

 

As an apprentice, the successful candidate will be paid the National Minimum Wage for Apprentices, currently £7.55 per hour for the first year of your apprenticeship. Further details can be found here - https://www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates.

 

 

This is a full-time role, and due to the demands of professional football, there is a requirement for weekend and evening work.

 

Who are Derby County…

 

Derby County Football Club, established in 1884, is one of the founder members of the English Football League and has a rich and varied history, including two First Division titles in 1972 and 1975 and an FA Cup success in 1946. The club are currently playing in the Sky Bet Championship, the second tier of English Football following their promotion from League One in the 2023/24 season and is under the management of Head Coach John Eustace. The club also boasts a successful and respected Category One Academy, a status which has been held since 2014, and a Women’s side competing in the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division. Derby County recently embarked on an exciting new era following the change in ownership to Clowes Developments (UK) Limited, in the summer of 2022. Our track record of producing talent is outstanding, and we intend to protect that proud legacy, investing in key roles within the club to build on the foundations in place for success.

 

Everything we do as a Club is built around the three pillars of stability, integrity and progress. Our core values are:

 

• We are proud of who we are and what we do
• We are positive, inspired and passionate
• We are ambitious and driven
• We are prepared, honest and humble
• We are the heartbeat of our community
• We are the club of opportunity

 

Derby County employee benefits include:

 

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Two complimentary staff season tickets
• Two complimentary staff away memberships, subject to availability
• 20% discount at DCFC Megastore
• Company Pension with Aviva
• Discounts with select Club partners and sponsors
• Healthshield Cash Health Plan to support employee health and well-being and Perks for great deals and discounts
• Participating in our employee forum, ‘The Herd’ and Staff Events!
• Training and development opportunities
• Access to programmes and volunteering opportunities with Derby County Community Trust
• Subsidised lunchtime meals at Moor Farm

 

How to apply…

 

Derby County Football Club is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

As part of the Club's commitment to providing a safe environment for children and young people, applicants should be aware that this post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Criminal Record Check.

 

Derby County Football Club is an Inclusive Club for all and is committed to Equality and Diversity.

 

To apply for this role, please complete an application form, which can be found HERE.

 

Alternatively, please copy and paste - http://thera.ms/apply - to your chosen browser.

 

More information can be found at https://www.dcfc.co.uk/page/jobsandcareers

 

The closing date for receipt of applications is Sunday 28 September 2025. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early.

 

Strictly no agencies please.

 

Derby County Football Club’s Job Applicant Privacy Policy can be found at dcfc.co.uk.