Getting pesonal with Ben Connell

Ben Connell - his favourite smell is a tad scary, but at least he's polite and friendly!

Who are you? Ben Connell, Head Groundsman at Ipswich Town Football Club.

Family status? Married to Amanda for four years. We have an eighteen month old son, Tommy.

What would you change about yourself? Not to be so forgetful.

What's your guilty pleasure? Lamb Dansak.

What do you drop everything for? My family.

What's been the highlight of your career so far? Being appointed Head Groundsman at ITFC.

Climate change - fact or fiction? Fact.

What's your favourite season? Spring.

What are your pet peeves? Rude and arrogant people.

If you could go anywhere right now, where would it be? Havana, a beautiful city caught in a time trap.

Who or what is the most important thing in your life? My wife and son.

What's the best part of your job? Having good machinery to work with.

… and the worst? Tight budgets.

Favourite record, and why? River of Dreams. As a thirteen year old, it was the first Billy Joel song I had heard. I have been hooked ever since.

Who would you choose to spend a romantic evening with? If not my wife, then Natalie Imbruglia.

If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do? If I had won enough, the first thing I'd do is buy my cricket club (Felixstowe) a new clubhouse!

What's the best advice you have ever been given? Keep it simple.

What's your favourite smell? Gunpowder!

What do you do in your spare time? I enjoy playing and watching cricket and golf.

What's the daftest work related question you have ever been asked? Can you roll the mound in the cricket outfield flat?

What's your favourite piece of kit? Our Weidenmann XF6 aerator.

What three words would you use to describe yourself? Polite, friendly, forgetful.

What talent would you like to have? To be able to play the piano.

What law/legislation would you like to see introduced? Prisoners to serve all of their sentence.