Football club receives £982,000 to develop 3G pitch

A football club that has been "desperately" wanting to develop a 3G artificial pitch has been awarded a grant of more than £982,000 for the project.

March Town FC Estover CIC received the funding from the Premier League, The Football Association and the Football Foundation to improve training and matchday facilities at Estover Playing Fields in Cambridgeshire.

The club said it hoped the facilities would create more opportunities for women and girls, disabled players and walking football to use the site.

Lee Brownlow, March Town United FC chairman, said: "We are delighted that finally March will be getting the 3G facility it has been desperately waiting for. This shows what can be achieved when a community pulls together."

The project for the new facilities has also been supported by £240,000 of funding from March Town Council and £30,000 from fundraising activities.

Primarily, the new pitch will be used by March Town FC and March Town Youth FC.

Katie Critchley, the football development manager at Cambridgeshire Football Association, said: "This is a significant achievement and a real testament to their outstanding work and contribution.

"This investment will now only enhance the playing experience for local teams and community groups but also underlines a shared commitment to development grassroots football in Fenland."

Robert Sullivan, the chief executive of the Football Foundation, said the pitch would give "more people access to a great place to play".

He said: "Good quality playing facilities have a transformative impact on physical and mental health and play an important role in bringing people together and strengthening local communities."

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