HUNDREDS of footballers in Northwich will be able to practise at modern facilities all year round, if a proposal to build new pitches is approved.

Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC) says the £1m scheme aims to provide two state-of-the-art playing surfaces – both floodlit – at Moss Farm outdoor sports complex, in Winnington, and Hartford campus.

The pitches will be 3G, or third generation, with artificial grass.

“There is a huge gap in mid Cheshire in terms of football provision,” said Simon Gerrard, chief executive of Cheshire FA.

“So for us, this is a natural fit in terms of addressing that shortfall.”

He believes more than 175 teams, from junior through to senior, and many more schoolchildren will have access to the pitches each week.

That is at least 1,500 players.

The work will be paid for by a £500,000 handout from the Football Foundation, the UK’s largest sports charity, and the same amount from Thor Specialities (UK) Ltd.

The chemicals manufacturer agreed to pay compensation to the council earlier this year, in return for redeveloping a site in Wincham upon which Northwich Victoria’s former home ground was situated.

The Victoria Stadium has since been dismantled.

“We have talked at length with the FA following the loss of the football ground about how best to distribute the funds from Thor,” said Clr Stuart Parker, executive group member for culture.

“What we have is a fantastic opportunity to develop high class facilities to help create a great sporting infrastructure for the future.”

Both proposals, as they include floodlights, require planning permission.

However, no decision has yet been made as to where on each site the pitches will be placed.

At Hartford, the facility will be shared between the high school and Mid Cheshire College.

Mr Gerrard added: “The loss of the Victoria Stadium was a significant blow, but it’s good that money has been made available as a result that can be spent on football facilities in Northwich that are much-needed.

“Lots of people will benefit from that, too.”

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