WORK to build a new pitch for Mangotsfield United Football Club is in full swing.
Contractors Tiger Turf and McCardle sent bulldozers in to the Cossham Street ground at the end of June to clear the turf pitch, so a new 3G all-weather surface can be installed.
The £1.2m project by the club and Mangotsfield & Blackhorse Sports and Community Association has received funding from the Premier League, Football Association and the government’s Football Foundation.
It includes widening the ground and installing LED floodlights, and was due to be ready for use by the end of November – although after three weeks of work, the contractors were ahead of schedule.
Before the pitch was dug up, coaches of the club’s junior sides played a final match on the grass, with some under-16s taking part to “help tired legs”.
The teams included three generations of the Lowe family: Charlie, his dad Dale and grandad Steve.
The Mangos first team has arranged all of its pre-season friendlies away from home and the club has also asked for all of its early Hellenic League Premier Division fixtures to be away games, so that it doesn’t need to arrange a temporary home before the work finishes.
As the Voice went to print, the club’s first six league matches and FA Cup extra preliminary round tie were all confirmed to be away from home, although they face a home tie if they progress in the Cup.
The Mangos have also received a bye in the first qualifying round of the FA Vase but their second round fixture is currently down as a home game.