MARCUS Cassidy paid tribute to the support of former Swindon Town chief executive Nick Watkins after claiming the League One groundsman of the year title this week.

Cassidy, who was supported by Watkins in his pitch renovations and through an alcohol problem during his tenure at the County Ground, saw off competition from his opposite numbers at Carlisle United and MK Dons to land the gong.

Opposition managers and referees mark the playing surface at each away ground over the course of the season, with the pitch coming out top of those rankings claiming what Cassidy has previously described as “the FA Cup for groundsmen”.

Collecting the prize was the defining moment of a five-year place devised by Cassidy, his consultants and Watkins when the consortium led by Andrew Fitton took over the club in 2008.

Around £20,000 has been pumped into annual pitch renovations - five of them - since, and Cassidy was quick to thank his former boss for his input.

“It still hasn’t properly sunk in. I’m really, really pleased but relieved mainly. Everyone was telling me I was going to win it but the way I think was I was trying to tell myself I wasn’t going to win it,” he said.

“I didn’t want to build myself up and then fall down. I’m just so happy.

“I’ve sent Nick Watkins a really nice email because he’s the one who kept me here and got me that award in a way. I’m over the moon and really relieved.

“Obviously off the field I’ve had a few problems and work-wise, with the way the weather has been, it makes it even more of an achievement.

“I had a meeting with Nick five years ago when they came and asked for a ridiculous amount of money to put a new pitch in or give me X amount over five years.

“We sat down and made a plan of improving the pitch over a three to five-year period.

“Over the five years we’ve spent money into the different areas of the pitch that we felt necessary.

“There’s a lot of planning that goes into it and it pays off. We’re not going out spending stupid amounts of money, we’re just getting done what needs doing when necessary.”