Josh Smith: Meet the professional groundsman at 15

Josh Smith turns 16 in May and he is already Head Groundsman at three Huddersfield Premier Cricket League clubs: Kirkburton, Shepley and Kirkheaton.

His story is one of talent, accelerated learning and responsibility in the world of grass; one we’ll dive into with the help of his dad Jonny and a word with Josh too.

As a GMA Level 1-qualified groundsman from the age of 14, Josh is a very different demographic to the typical groundie in club cricket; quite a bit older, often retired and willing to pour countless hours into grounds maintenance.

His dad Jonny, a wicketkeeper-batter with Kirkburton, tells me when the seed was appropriately sown for a future association with cricket grounds:

“Joshua has always been interested in lawnmowers from a very young age, so it was always going to be inevitable that once he started coming to watch me play cricket at Wrenthorpe, he was going to be a groundsman.”

This photo shows Josh, aged 7, on his way to the middle between innings.

In his teens, after passing the GMA course, he became Head Groundsman at Kirkburton Cricket Club a year later (2024). Then, halfway through that season Shepley CC enquired, as their groundsman had left the role.

Two cricket grounds alongside school work required no little skill and impressive time management at an age when I was usually found bowling in the nets in between lessons.

I ask Josh what appealed: “I like using all different kinds of machines and also seeing the development of the field from playing terrible to somewhat decent! I love being outside, I could be outside all day every day.”

Lord’s opportunity

That hunger to learn saw an opportunity grabbed to head to Lord’s after an invite from head groundsman Karl McDermott. Josh worked with Karl on the England vs Sri Lanka Test pitch that was used a few days later.

“Joshua was over the moon to hear that Joe Root had scored a hundred in both innings on a pitch that he helped prepare. Spending the day at the home of cricket was something he will always remember.”

There is another link with Root; once a talented teen who earnt his stripes in quick time. With Josh, he decided to start his own business and so JS SportTurf has founded – cementing that reputation by taking on a third cricket ground at Kirkheaton Cricket Club.

He already has interest from another cricket club and there is scope to move into football and winter sports to have jobs all-year-round.

One question I ask towards the end is about his dream job. Perhaps unsurprisingly, a Head of Grounds at Lord’s or Headingley was front-and-centre or perhaps working for a contractor due to the variety of jobs and challenges.

At the current rate of things, don’t be too surprised if he takes over from Richard Robinson at Yorkshire in 2026!

When I catch up with Josh by phone and raise the day at Lord’s, its impact is obvious.

He got to “learn from the best” and handle the kind of groundkeeping equipment befitting the duty of care at an international sports stadium. Ignorant of these things, I’d assumed that the blue machine was flattened the grass but it actually injects gusts of air into the soil to create gaps for roots to grow.

Branching out in Barnsley

Josh has his exams in May and is going to start the Sports Turf and Green Keeping Apprenticeship course at Barnsley College from September.

He told me: “I want to get more understanding of different sports and the qualification also gets me my Level 2 apprenticeship.”

Chatting to Josh, it’s easy to forget he’s a teen, talking as he does with a confidence and plenty of experience already. Inevitably, we discuss the weather and the twin-edged sword that is a welcome blast of sunny, settled weather in April.

“It’s unbelievable. I’m hoping for it to rain any day. I want rain! I’ve never watered a pitch before in April and I’m watering it every day.”

His is a terrific story blending natural ability, graft, a hunger to succeed and entrepreneurial spirit.

Sounding every inch the proud dad, Jonny told me:

To find out more about JSSportTurf, visit https://www.jssportsturf.co.uk/