MANGOTSFIELD United’s £1.2 million upgrade is proving to be a success on and off the pitch.
The team played its first home game on its new all-weather 3G pitch at Cossham Street on November 23.
The 2-0 win over Slimbridge was watched by 367 people, who braved the heavy rain and wind from Storm Bert on a day when many other matches were called off.
It marked the successful completion of a project, first announced 14 months earlier, which has involved levelling the 2.2m (7ft 2in) drop between the highest and lowest corners of the pitch since the end of last season.
The floodlights have been replaced with more energy-efficient LED lighting, which also reduces light pollution.
New covered standing areas have been created on the terrace opposite the main Ralph Miller Stand, alongside new dugouts for home and away teams.
The club and Mangotsfield & Blackhorse Sports and Community Association worked with contractors TigerTurf and McArdle Sport Tec on the project, 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.
Club chairman Steve Brown said: “Despite the complexities of the project, everything ran smoothly and was completed on time and in budget.
“The Football Foundation and Gloucestershire FA have been fantastic throughout, and I’d like to place on record our enormous gratitude to both for their support throughout this entire process.
“But the most important support has been from the local community and fans – it’s been incredible.
“From sponsors to fans, we are nothing without you, and the response has been amazing. To see Cossham Street with over 300 on a Saturday afternoon, with the atmosphere and excitement that creates, is just wonderful!
“It’s been fantastic seeing all the familiar faces returning after the reopening but also getting the opportunity to meet new faces too. The Juniors and their families coming up and being involved as mascots, too, has been great.
“We’ve also started attracting more volunteers on match days, which has been really helpful, but we’re always in need of more for a number of roles, so if anyone is interested then we’d invite them to pop along on a match day and enquire.”
All of the club’s Hellenic League away fixtures were scheduled for the first half of the season, allowing it to complete the work before playing any of its home fixtures.
Steve said local groups from across the area had started to use the new pitch outside of match days.
He said: “It’s great to see the ground being used by so many. We are talking to local organisations about daytime usage and hope that in the new year Cossham Street will be home to 6-a-side leagues and walking football.
“Mangotsfield United is an inclusive, friendly club and if you haven’t been along we’d love to welcome you and meet you.
“To all those who have supported us through the years and over this season while the ground has been redeveloped, thank you from us all.”
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