MANGOTSFIELD United’s brand new all-weather pitch is ready to use after a £1.2 million revamp of the club’s Cossham Street ground was completed on schedule.
The first team was due to play its first home fixture of the season on November 23 at 3pm, against Slimbridge.
Before that the club held an open evening on November 7, where players, supporters and people interested in hiring the pitch and other facilities were invited to have a look around.
The club and Mangotsfield & Blackhorse Sports and Community Association first announced plans to replace the sloping turf pitch with an all-weather 3G surface in September last year.
The project has involved levelling the 2.2m (7ft 2in) drop between the highest and lowest corners of the pitch.
That means the corner by the changing rooms is now accessed by a short flight of steps and the terraces nearby stand above pitch level.
The project has also included replacing the existing floodlights with more energy-efficient LED lighting, which will reduce light pollution in neighbouring areas.
New covered standing areas have been created on the terrace opposite the main Ralph Miller Stand, alongside new dugouts for home and away managers, trainers and substitutes.
Work started after the end of last season, and the Hellenic Football League allowed the club to play all of this season’s Premier Division fixtures away until contractors Tiger Turf and McCardle had the pitch ready to use.
It means all of the outstanding league fixtures are at home, except for a postponed match at Malmesbury Victoria, which had still to be rearranged as the Voice went to print.
Club chairman Steve Brown said the project had been “a challenge”.
It has been funded with help from a £775,499 joint grant from the Premier League, the FA and government’s Football Foundation, plus a further Premier League award of £150,000.