Todd happy getting everything ship shape

It’s far from a glamorous job managing a county ground in the lead-up to — and during — game day

Sometime before 11 tomorrow morning, Christy Todd will take a key to the side gate of O’Connor Park and begin his routine.

The former county secretary manages the Tullamore venue now and is helped in his duties by the caretaker. Both are only all too aware of the clocks going forward as much as the later 3pm throw-in between Offaly and Limerick will help.

The pitch will have been cut yesterday or today with tomorrow more a case of dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s. The water will be turned on for the players’ showers. The operation of the scoreboard must be verified as well as putting out the pitch flags.

Then there’s the turnstiles, the closed circuit TV cameras, the press box, the ticketing machine. “If you turn up an hour before and something doesn’t work you’ve no time to remedy it,” he smiles.

Not surprisingly, Todd isn’t expecting too many to come through the turnstiles. Offaly have yet to pick up a point and look all but doomed to Division 4 football next season. They face Limerick who are trying to give the drop the slip too. There are plenty other more attractive games around the country, Todds know, but his check-list won’t change.

Recently, Carlow revealed they cleared a paltry €70 from their February Division 2A hurling game with Down in Dr Cullen Park.

Tomorrow’s total in O’Connor Park won’t be as low but it will hardly pay the costs of opening the venue.

“But that’s the price you pay for being in the lower divisions and the lower end of one of them,” says Todd. “You still have to go and do the same rounds. Nothing changes in that aspect.

“The Limerick hurlers are playing at home so there won’t be much from Limerick coming to the game so that will have an effect on the crowd. It doesn’t matter how big or how the game is going to be, the same rigmarole has to be done.”

The matter of match programmes are in the hands of county board PRO Eamonn Cusack but Todd knows from experience the amount printed are estimated on how many have sold for similar games in the past.

“It’s guesswork but sometimes you get it spot on,” he says. “There hasn’t been any real budgeting issue for us this year being in Division 1B in hurling and Division 3 in football.”

Weather can be a blessing but is more the bane of his match-day activities. “It can have a fierce effect on the job you’re trying to do, the crowd, the game, the atmosphere. A bad day and you’ve to do things completely differently. A fine morning and it becomes so much easier. There are a lot of things you can control on the day but weather always has you.”

What’s made life more interesting for Todd this season if a little more challenging is the introduction of the new ticketing system. “We’re set up well now with the new ticket booths in place. We have had to get patrons used to getting a ticket before they come to the turnstile. Like all new things it takes time but it’s starting to work well.”

Todd locks up when the last of the journalists leave, which can vary again depending on the importance and time of the game. On Monday morning, the divots on the pitch are replaced and the litter in the stands and terraces picked up. “The knitty-gritty stuff,” Todd calls it.

He adds: “It’s a thankless job but a satisfying one too because there can be a great buzz involved in it. O’Connor Park is a great venue to be working in and people appreciate coming here that they have access to good facilities. It’s my job to make sure they’re all in good shape. Knowing that makes it worthwhile.”