Jumpers for goalposts as newly improved pitches open up

Published: 28 July 2021

Works to upgrade football pitches in Pinhoe are nearly complete and fencing has come down at Pinhoe Station Road Playing Fields so that locals can enjoy the improved playing surface over the school holidays.

However the City Council is stressing that the surface isn’t ready for organised games just yet as there are still some final works taking place this week and the pitch needs as much time as possible to bed in.

Cllr David Harvey, Lead Councillor for City Management, said people could enjoy ‘jumpers for goalposts for the time being.

“We’re happy for locals to get out there and have a kickabout over the summer holidays,” he said.

“But pitch markings and posts won’t go in for a few more weeks until the surface has properly bedded in,” he stressed.

The fencing panels have now come down after months of work and recovery time.

Cllr Duncan Wood, Lead Councillor for Leisure & Physical Activity, said: “It’s been a long wait for the pitches to be ready. I’m really pleased that they are finally open for recreational use.”

The City Council has refurbished and upgraded the football pitches, providing a better surface with improved drainage. The newly improved pitches will be ready for action in time for the 2021/22 football season.

Around £150,000 has been spent on the pitch upgrade, with funding for the project coming from section 106 money from local housing developments at Monkerton and Tithebarn. The money from developers comes with a condition that it can only be spent on playing pitches in the Pinhoe area.

The size of the senior pitch had been increased to meet FA requirements and improvements made to the junior playing surface.

The main pitch has been re-profiled so that it slopes very gradually down to the brook, with sand put down and drainage installed  underneath the pitch so that the water can drain away better.

The site is currently used by Pinhoe AFC and Pinhoe Spartans Junior Football Club and in recent years, many home matches had to be played elsewhere as the pitches didn’t drain well and become waterlogged easily.

“The pitches are a vast improvement on the previous facilities and I’m sure will be welcomed by local children and families over the summer and the football clubs and individuals when the season begins,” added Cllr Wood.