“Calamity” shakes amateur club
Lawn gone: robotic lawnmower destroys pitch – games canceled
November 22, 2025 – 10:49 a.mReading time: 2 minutes
An amateur club was badly surprised and has to look for a new sports field for the time being. A robotic lawnmower, of all things, is to blame for this.
The SG Egels-Popens robotic lawnmower normally makes its way along the edge of the pitch in the evenings. But last weekend the routine operation ended with unexpected damage: the device, which the club members call “Robby”, got stuck in the middle of the lawn – it literally sank into the mud in the soggy ground. The pitch is now unplayable.
The second chairman of the club in East Frisian Class A season two, Alexander Fink, doesn’t know how exactly this came about. What is certain, however, is that the pitch was heavily soaked after persistent rain. “It’s unclear whether it was already raining when he started or whether it only started afterwards. In any case, at some point the sensors were so dirty that he just kept driving in circles,” he explained in an interview with “Spiegel”.
“Robby” just “rolled through the wet floor and left a broken place,” continued Fink, who was unexpectedly surprised last Sunday morning. “As we got closer, we saw the disaster.” Although the robotic lawnmower was recovered undamaged, the lawn is unusable for the time being.
The result: seven games in the youth and men’s divisions have to be canceled. Only when the ground has dried can new lawn be sown or turf laid. The pitch is therefore unplayable until spring 2026. The low temperatures also prevent a timely recovery. In addition to the costs of repairs, the amateur club has to move its games to artificial turf, “that also involves costs,” explained Fink. The association accepts offers of help and donations via its website and its support association.
Despite the mishap, SG Egels-Popens is sticking with the robotic lawnmower. “Robby” has been with the club for seven years. “It’s also constantly maintained and we take good care of it,” said Fink, who doesn’t blame the device. However, the robot could be replaced in the future, “there are now some updates in this area. Maybe we’ll get a second one to relieve ‘Robby’,” says Fink. “Robby” is currently in hibernation.