Legends Behind South Auckland’s Sports Fields

On weekends, thousands of South Aucklanders head to their local sports fields. Young athletes chase big dreams, families gather on the sidelines, and communities come together to cheer on their whānau and friends. 

Behind those moments is a dedicated sports fields renovation and maintenance team from Citycare Property led by two very experienced men. 

Paul Cosgrave and Mike Brown have been working side by side since the 90s. Between them, they bring a depth of experience that shows in every square metre of turf. Paul joined Citycare in 2017 and Mike in 2018, but their shared history stretches much further. They now lead the Citycare Property sports field team that maintains around 350 fields across South Auckland, covering approximately 300,000 square metres of community space. 

They handle everything from coring, sanding and seeding to mowing and line marking. They also ensure the facilities are in good shape. Renovations happen year-round and maintenance never really stops. Many fields have soil surfaces that demand constant attention. All of them must be even, safe and ready for play. 

For Paul and Mike, the work starts with people rather than grass.

Paul puts it simply: “People here are passionate about their sports. We do not want to let them down. We want to give them a fair chance to have a good game.” 

Mike highlights the importance of safety. “We make sure there are no holes, no broken glass and no loose goalposts. People trust that these fields are safe for their kids and their teams.”

One of their proudest achievements was preparing Ngā Hau Māngere / Māngere Centre Park for the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2023. The team had to convert the field to perennial ryegrass, meet strict international standards and balance the expectations of clubs and council. "Some may not realise that grass needs four to six weeks of growing time," Paul says. Even with the pressure, the team delivered a surface fit for worldclass athletes. 

The challenges are constant. Motorbikes tear up fields, cricket wickets get vandalised, and the rain can feel endless. Still, the expectation remains the same and the team start the work on Monday to get the fields ready for Saturday. 

Paul began in the turf industry in 1986 and completed an apprenticeship in turf management. Fresh out of high school, he started working in a golf course and was drawn to the work that changed with the weather and never felt repetitive. This career took him to different places overseas.  

Mike also started his career maintaining golf courses. He later moved into parks and reserves like Paul and later completed his apprenticeship in 1997. Paul was his trainer and assessor.  

Both have now spent 30 years working across council and community spaces. They are also now training the next generation of sports field technicians, passing on the “tricks of the trade” that only time can teach. 

They have seen the best and the worst of South Auckland’s fields, and they keep showing up because they know how much these places matter. Their work gives people opportunities to play, compete, connect and stay well. As Paul says, “It is good for people’s overall health. It’s a place for them to come together.” 

The Citycare Property sports field team delivering for the Auckland Council Rima contract is determined that these fields are ready for whoever turns up next.