Young footballers in Exeter have been given a sneak preview of the newly laid grassroots football pitches they will play on this coming season.
Youngsters from Heavitree Youth Football Club were given a feel for the newly created playing surface at Bromhams Farm Fields. The Under-11s side will be one of the teams playing on the three pitches when the season starts next month.
Also backing the new facilities were players from Exeter City Football Club, who popped along to check out the surface. Luca Woodhouse and Andrew Oluwabori were joined by Sophie Gillies and Beth Ireland.
The pitches, which also include a baseball diamond, have been created by Exeter City Council, with funding from the Environment Agency, which had used the site as a compound for the city’s flood defence scheme. The fields had previously been used as sports pitches before the flood defence work began.
Playing surface specialist Carrick Sports was brought in to carry out the work. The company had to clear the site of rubble, level the surface, create a soil base and sow the grass seed. Carrick Sports has a strong track record of creating quality playing surfaces, including for Premier League clubs.
Cllr Ruth Williams, Lead Councillor for City Management, said she was delighted with the new surface: “The grass has shaped up well and will be ready for the new season. We will be giving it a fresh cut, lining out the pitches and installing the goals, ready for the action to begin.”
Cllr Duncan Wood, Lead Councillor for Leisure Services and Healthy Living, said: “It will be great to see these newly laid pitches being used by youngsters from grassroots football clubs like Heavitree Youth. It’s wonderful to see Exeter City footballers inspiring the next generation of players. Who knows — we might see them one day running out at St James Park.”
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