Proposed 3G pitch could be a game changer

Melton Town FC has applied to the borough council for planning permission to install the advanced 3G surface to replace the existing field at their headquarters off Burton Road.

The club will be using private funding for the facility and is confident it can flourish as a result of having the new pitch.

The news comes in a week in which the FA has provisionally indicated that Town can apply for promotion to a level which would be the highest any club has ever played at in the borough.

Tom Manship, the club’s first team manager. told the Melton Times: “This would provide Melton with an amazing facility and at no cost to the local taxpayer.

“We as a football club are holding positive, ongoing discussions with Melton Borough Council and we are hopeful we will get the go-ahead for it.”

Melton Town FC recently merged with Melton Town Foxes Junior FC and the club believe their proposed new pitch will encourage young players to stay with the club through to the adult teams.

It should also ensure more matches go ahead after bad weather - Town only played once in three months the winter before last and the Foxes have also seen a multitude of fixtures called off in recent years.

Tom added: “We are trying to create a pathway for juniors with this pitch, to give kids hope to aspire to get in our first team, which in Melton they’ve never had before.

“We are also in discussions with Birch Wood Special School for them to use the new pitch to keep their pupils fit.”

The club hope to have a planning decision by early in June and it will then take them up to 10 weeks to get the new pitch installed.

Club chairman, Matt Curtis, added: “Hopefully, come the new season, we’ll have the new pitch in place. It’ll be great for the kids, and what a place to play football it will be.”

l Turn to page 40 for how the FA’s restructure of football affects Melton Town FC.