Gillingham’s head groundsman Haydn Lawrance praised by first-team boss Gareth Ainsworth after preparing pitches at Priestfield and Beechings Cross

Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth has hailed the "incredible" work of the club's groundsman after returning for pre-season.

The Gills players reported back from their summer break last Thursday but while they were off recuperating, groundsman Haydn Lawrance was putting in the hard yards to get the Priestfield pitch ready for another season.

Ainsworth has paid tribute to Lawrance after being impressed by the condition of the pitches, at Priestfield and their training base at Beechings Cross.

The manager said the work behind the scenes had not gone unnoticed.

"Our groundsman has done an incredible job with the pitches, he really has," said Ainsworth.

"I know for a fact he's been doing 12-hour days and he's on his own. He has young Tom with him, but primarily he's on his own.

"Down at the training ground and at Priestfield, I'm really impressed in such a short space of time with what he's been able to turn around.

"We aim to put good football on good pitches."

The Gills' supporters will get their first look at Ainsworth's reshaped squad when Charlton Athletic visit Priestfield on Saturday, July 18 before fellow Championship side Millwall visit a few days later, on Tuesday, July 21.

Ainsworth believes the calibre of opposition will provide the perfect test ahead of the new campaign.

"I'm really excited because they're different from previous years," he said.

"They're obviously going to draw crowds, and Millwall are going to be very strong. They almost got into the Premier League last year and Charlton, again, will be looking at themselves to try and improve in the Championship.

"I've come up against both managers before and I'm quite friendly with both clubs. It's nice to have that sort of local feel about them both.

"I'm