THE North Riding FA will not stand in the way of any club wanting to use York College’s artificial pitch as a permanent home base next season.

York and District League champions Hamilton Panthers have recently expressed an interest in playing their 2009/10 fixtures on the Sim Balk Lane 3G surface.

The league, however, felt the FA would not sanction such a move due to the unfair advantage it would present to Panthers against opponents accustomed to playing on grass.

But Tom Radigan, chief executive of the North Riding FA, has told The Press that decisions over any side using the college facility for home fixtures would need to be voted on by that league’s member clubs.

Radigan said: “Aside from the FA Cup, the FA allow the use of artificial pitches in all competitions although there are certain conditions. A couple of seasons ago, the North Riding FA played the Manchester FA in the County Youth Cup on their artificial surface and they had to provide our players with a couple of hours’ training on the pitch.

“We actually used the 3G surface at York College for one of our Junior Cup competitions with both teams’ agreement, and any decision as to whether Hamilton Panthers can use the York College pitch lies with the league and their member clubs.”