Leeds Rhinos backroom stalwart moves on after 23 years as 'tough decision' made

Ryan Golding started at Rhinos as an apprentice on the groundstaff and worked his way up to become head groundsman. He told the Leeds Rhinos Podcast: “After 23 years I’ll be leaving the club.

“I have been offered a really good opportunity at Hull City. It was a pretty tough and upsetting decision, but something I am really excited about and looking forward to.”

Explaining his decision to leave, Golding added: “The vision they’ve got [at Hull City] is really exciting and I want to progress as a groundsman as well. The same challenges here happen a lot of the time, but over there it is different challenges and that’s something I need as a person as well as a groundsman.

“It is dual-use as well, which I have a lot of experience of here with the rugby union. Having dual-use is something that’s particularly suited to my skill set and football is another challenge I can get my head around.”

Golding has been at Leeds throughout a series of massive changes, including the stadium redevelopment and has overseen a variety of different events on the playing surface. He insisted he is leaving the AMT Headingley pitch in good hands. He said: “The progression will be quite straightforward.

“The next head man will be somebody who is familiar with here. I came through as an apprentice, then assistant under Jason [Booth, the previous head groundsman] and took over myself 12 years ago, at 27.

“That is incredibly young for a head groundsman, but I need to thank the board of directors, especially Gary [Hetherington, former chief executive] and Sue [Ward] regarding that decision, because to take a 27-year-old head groundsman on is a pretty strong decision when there’s a lot more experienced guys out there.

“It means potentially the guys underneath can step up a position and all the responsibility and pressure that comes with that, so they can do the job as well. I think it works well for everybody.”