A JUNIOR football club’s hopes of expansion have been given a major boost with the opening of a state-of-the-art artificial grass pitch.

The project at Bedale Leisure Centre was made possible thanks to a £50,427 award from the Premier League and the FA Facilities Fund - which provides grants towards developing new or refurbished grassroots football facilities.

Hambleton District Council secured the funding for the pitch, which was officially opened by the chairman of the North Riding FA, Len Scott.

The project involved the refurbishment and upgrading of the previous sand-based artificial pitch with a new “third-generation” surface.

It will be used extensively by Bedale High School, the local community and Bedale Junior Football Club.

The club currently operates 13 teams and is reliant on the facilities at the leisure centre for all of its training requirements.

The refurbishment means the club can use the site for mini-soccer fixtures and also forms a considerable part of the club’s ambitions to expand to 20 teams, including the growth of the girls’ and disability sections.

Hambleton District Council chairman John Prest said: “This grant has enabled Hambleton District Council to revamp the floodlit pitch at Bedale, creating a top class facility for the local community.

“It will improve sport at grassroots level – as well as links with the local clubs and schools.”

He added; “We are very grateful to the Premier League and the FA Facilities Fund as without their contribution this would not have been possible.”

The fund is delivered by the Football Foundation, the country’s largest sports charity.

Since it was launched in 2000, it has awarded around 13,000 grants worth more than £510m towards improving grassroots sport, which it has used to attract additional partnership funding of over £719m.

The foundation’s chief executive, Paul Thorogood, said: “This refurbished third-generation pitch is an example of the positive impact that this funding is having on our grassroots game.

“First-class facilities like this are crucial to creating more opportunities for local people to enjoy regular sport.”

He added: “Aided by the North Riding FA, Hambleton District Council deserves huge credit for taking a vision and turning it into a reality.

“Sport has the power to make a positive impact on the health of communities and this wonderful new facility will improve the sporting experience of local people and encourage them to be more active.”