City sports stadium to undergo £825,000 upgrades

The existing Moorways Stadium pitch was laid nearly 40 years ago

Parts of a council-owned sports stadium in Derby are set to be upgraded as part of an £825,000 project.

Derby City Council said the ageing sand-dressed pitch at the Moorways Stadium, in Allenton, would be converted into a larger 3G-synthetic turf surface.

The work will also see new LED floodlights be installed and part of the athletics track resurfaced.

The authority said the current pitch was laid in 1987 and was coming to the end of its life.

The council said it would use a Football Foundation grant to part-fund the work.

Nadine Peatfield, the council's cabinet member for city centre, regeneration, culture and tourism, said: "The creation of a new 3G pitch at Moorways Stadium will be a further boost to grassroots football in Derby, as the number of teams in the city, across all ages, increases year on year.

"It’s not just about football, though. This project will also improve facilities for rugby and athletics."

The revamp will be carried out in partnership with Everyone Active, the firm that operates the stadium and nearby Moorways Sports Village, as well as Derbyshire County Football Association.

Allenton United FC, Derby Athletic Club, Field Lane FC, Rolls Royce RUFC and Pride Park FC will also be involved in the project, the council said.

The authority said it hoped the work would be complete by early October.

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