Buxton FC to install new 3G pitch at Silverlands

Buxton FC have revealed ground-breaking plans to install a new 3G pitch at the Tarmac Silverlands Stadium
Buxton FC v Warrington, Liam HardyBuxton FC v Warrington, Liam Hardy
Buxton FC v Warrington, Liam Hardy

The club aim to have a state-of-the-art artificial pitch and a pavilion installed at the ground in time for the 2018/19 season.

The facility will offer educational programmes, including BTEC and A Levels delivered by teachers in a classroom environment.

Chairman David Hopkins said he has been frustrated in the past by having to preserve the grass pitch for the first team. And the club hope this move will help strengthen their links with the community.

Hopkins said: “With such a well-positioned facility in the town it is so frustrating to us all at the club that for the vast majority of the time our main asset, the pitch, cannot be used as we have to work hard to protect the surface for the first team, which of course is not always easy in Buxton.

“As the leading football club in the immediate area we should do more to engage with the town, and during my time at the club it has been a constant frustration that we have been unable to offer our facilities to the broader wider community including girls’ and boys’ football right through to veterans and even walking football.

“We were delighted recently to be able to team up with a local disabled football group, but these opportunities are restricted with the limitations of only having a single grass pitch.

“With the advancement in quality of artificial pitches in recent years we now feel that the time is right to replace the current grass pitch at the Tarmac Silverlands Stadium with an artificial 3G surface.

“The new 3G surface will also benefit our first team, as there will be much less chance of games having to be postponed due to adverse weather as has recently happened with scheduled matches against Frickley and Ilkeston.

“However, the big win will be that Buxton will at last have an accessible stadium environment for all ages and abilities wishing to play football.”

The club have recently announced a sponsorship deal for its ground to be named the Tarmac Silverlands Stadium and are pushing for promotion in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League.

Officials hope the ambitious proposal will enable the club to open its doors to all ages and abilities of footballers wanting to use facility.