The final stage of the Old Spotted Dog Ground Trust’s pathways and fencing project got under way on Saturday, Jul 11 — and it began with arguably the toughest job of all: laying the concrete

This phase has been split across two days of work. The clubhouse end of the ground was completed first, with the East Ham Road side, in front of the new toilet block, due to follow in the coming weeks.

The work was organised and led by our friends and concreting experts at Betongpark, supported by members of our own volunteers. It is fair to say that laying concrete is no easy task. It is heavy, demanding work, and any unexpected problems need to be dealt with quickly — especially in a heatwave, when the concrete dries even faster.

Once the first delivery arrived, it was all hands-on deck to get the concrete out, spread and levelled before the second delivery came in. For many volunteers, it was a quick and sharp introduction to just how difficult and physically demanding the job can be.

By the time the third and final delivery had been made, we were on track to have the section almost complete, with just a few gaps remaining. Anyone visiting for the friendly vs New York International FC will be able to see the progress for themselves and, more importantly, the difference the new pathway will make for many of our supporters.

There is still another day’s work to go – on Saturday July 25 – but it is impossible to overstate how much we owe to Betongpark. Their expertise, organisation and hard graft have helped us create a fantastic new pathway without breaking the bank.