THORPE Willoughby has a brand new £340,000 third generation (3G) artificial grass pitch thanks to a collaboration between local sports clubs and the Football Foundation.

Nigel Adams, MP for Selby and Ainsty, marked the official opening of the new facility at Field Lane Sports Centre, with the project benefitting from a £152,080 grant from the Foundation's Premier League & FA Facilities Fund.

The West Selby Miners Welfare Scheme entered into a partnership with Thorpe Willoughby Sports Association to drum up support for the initiative and Sport England also donated £75,000.

A 61-metre by 43-metre floodlit 3G playing surface has now replaced the old sand-dressed pitch and will be used predominantly by Thorpe United FC - an FA Community Standard Club with 16 teams ranging from under-8s to veterans.

United hope to add an U21 team and expand their disability team too as a result of the grant.

Funding was also secured from Thorpe Willoughby Cricket Club and Selby Hockey Club.

The cricket team will play football on the pitch and, as the hockey club expands, there will be the opportunity for them to stage training sessions on the site.

By providing more high-quality facilities, coupled with coaching at the appropriate age group, the Premier League & FA Facilities Fund aims to improve the experience for regular players, as well as attracting new players to the game.

Adams said: "I was delighted to officially open the fantastic new 3G pitch in Thorpe Willoughby. The site will provide a range of multi-sport activities for the local clubs and community to use.

"I am pleased to see this development in my constituency and the facilities funding invested by the Football Foundation is so important to the participation levels of sport in the region, which will keep the community fit and healthy."

West Selby Miners Welfare Scheme's project manager Ross Powell said: "This amazing facility has only been made possible with the fantastic support of our funders, the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund, Sport England, The Southern Community Engagement Forum, The Yorkshire Miners’ Welfare Trust Fund, Thorpe Willoughby Parish Council, Thorpe Willoughby Sports Association, Thorpe United Football Club, Selby Hockey Club, and Thorpe Willoughby Cricket Club.

"It will enable all ages in the local community to continue to participate in organised sport on a state-of-the-art facility for generations to come."

Paul Thorogood, chief executive of the Football Foundation, said: "I am delighted this development will provide a real boost to sport in the local area. Since 2000, the Football Foundation has supported grassroots projects worth more than £1.3 billion, investing into areas where the need is greatest and where it will have the biggest impact in terms of getting more people playing football and a wide range of other sports.

"With this funding, we are helping to improve community sports facilities across the country and thereby the playing experience of those who take part. This project in Thorpe Willoughby is the latest addition to the inventory of modern community sports sites we are developing that cater for the needs of local people who want to play sport purely for the love if it and to stay healthy."