A FOOTBALL club has received a £17,000 grant to improve facilities.

Wolviston FC in Teesside received the Football Foundation money from Frank Cook, MP for Stockton North, at a ceremony yesterday.

The club applied for funding for a new pitch at its Metcalfe Park Ground. It also received a grant of £3,000 from Stockton Borough Council and club members raised the remainder of the £22,000 needed for the work.

The current grass pitch will be drained and another full- sized pitch will be created to boost football in the area, particularly for girls and women.

Peter Lee, chief executive of the foundation, said: "Community football is the lifeblood of our national game and we are delighted that our funding is now making a real difference to grassroots sports."

Club president Rob Smith said: "This will be great for the community. Now we want to hear from teams who need a fine pitch to play on."

Any team interested in using the pitch can contact club secretary Keith Simpson on (01642) 298100.