New artificial pitch to help grassroots football

A NEW artificial football pitch at the home of the Devon FA could ‘help England to win the World Cup’.

The FA have a ‘radical new approach’ to grassroots football that would reverse years of neglect by investing £230m in new 3G pitches across the country.

An existing football field at Coach Road in Newton Abbot is set to be replaced with a new artificial grass pitch that would accommodate an 11v11 football pitch, as well as a variety of youth football pitches, mini soccer pitches and training areas.

Documents submitted by the Devon FA say that the scheme would provide a much needed and improved sports facility at their base and help produce better youngsters.

Teignbridge District Council’s recently adopted playing pitch strategy outlined that an additional two all-weather pitches in the district were needed to meet FA recom- mendation for the number of teams playing, with a new 3G pitch a ‘key strategic priority’.

Coach Road, at the Devon FA headquarters, was considered a possible solution at the time, and now formal plans for a pitch have been submitted to Teignbridge District Council planners.

At the time, Cllr Jeremy Christophers, leader of Teignbridge, said: “An artificial football pitch is a high priority for us. If we can get a new artificial pitch in then we can keep our teams playing on a regular basis over the winter when pitches are waterlogged. Some of the lads who we are talking who find themselves unable to play football find other priorities to do instead, which mainly involve them drinking beer, which isn’t keeping them fit and healthy as it could be.”

The design and access statement says: “In a sporting context, the plans would provide opportunities for the local com- munity and sports organisations to participate in sport and physical activity. It operates in line with the national agenda for sport and would increase the number of people of all ages and abilities to participate in sport.

“The development of the pitch would enable children and young adults to play on appropriately sized pitches.

Teignbridge District Council will determine the fate of the application at a later date.