MATCH cancellations should become a thing of the past at a sports pitch in York thanks to a £50,000 cash injection.

Sport in Fulford is one of 97 sports projects across England to receive a share of £5.5 million of National Lottery funding from Sport England’s Protected Playing Fields fund.

The money will be used to make improvements to their cricket and football pitch on School Lane which is currently unplayable during adverse weather conditions.

Work will include levelling out the pitch and regrading the surface helping to reduce fixture cancellations and as part of the bid a guarantee has been made that the land will remain as playing fields for 25 years.

Alan Smith, chairman of Fulford Parish Council, said: “We are delighted that Sport England has approved funding to allow us to improve the playing surface of the cricket outfield and football pitch.

“The parish council have worked closely with the Sports Club in Fulford and the City of York Council to gain this funding.

“These improvements, along with the guarantee of protection for at least 25 years, means that this sports facility can now be enjoyed by our community for many years to come.”