MANGOTSFIELD United’s new artificial pitch is on track to be ready for the club’s first home league fixture of the season in November.
It is just over a year since the club announced plans to replace the sloping turf pitch with an all-weather 3G surface as part of a revamp costing around £1.2 million.
The project has also included replacing the existing floodlights with more energy-efficient LED lighting, which will reduce light pollution in neighbouring areas, upgrading the clubhouse and building new covered standing areas on the terrace opposite the main Ralph Miller Stand at Cossham Street.
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.
The surface is now in place and the club posted pictures online in October to show what it looks like.
It means the club is due to play its first home league fixture of the season, against Slimbridge, on Saturday November 3 at 3pm.
By then the club will have played all their away fixtures, except possibly for a postponed match at Malmesbury Victoria which had still to be rearranged as the Voice went to print.
Before the match takes place the club is set to open its doors to the community for an open event to show supporters and residents the changes and upgraded facilities.
The open evening will take place on November 7 from 6.30-8.30pm, under the new floodlights.
Club chairman Steve Brown said: “Everyone is welcome.
“It will be a chance to talk to committee, see what will be available to hire for events like birthday parties, as well as finding about some of the opportunities that’ll be on offer, such as walking football and summer leagues.”
Perimeter works are underway on the side of the ground next to the neighbouring Hut Field, so that temporary fencing can be removed and the club’s junior pitch marked out.
The work 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.
It included levelling the 2.2m (7ft 2in) drop between the highest and lowest corners of the pitch.