THE first competitive matches have taken place on the artificial pitches at Middlesbrough's new £18 million sports village.

Middlesbrough District under 11s had the honour of being the first team to play a competitive match at the Middlesbrough Sports Village when they took

on Northumberland under 11s in the quarter final of the Derwent and Medomsley cup on Saturday.

Work is still ongoing to deliver the complex at the huge site at the former Prissick base.

The full-size all weather pitch, capable of hosting rugby, 11-a-side football or three seven-a-side pitches - along with four 5-a-side pitches suitable for men’s and youth games - was completed in March.

The running track and construction of the spectator stand has been visible to motorists on Marton Road since the track opened in October, after the

closure of Clairville Stadium in Grove Hill.

Middlesbrough paralympian Jade Jones, 2014 Commonwealth bronze medallist in the T54 wheelchair 1,500m race, used the track at the sports village for

the first time in March.

Work on the rest of the site is moving along quickly.

Alongside the sports hall is a 40m indoor sprint track, and a performance training and conditioning station for athletes.

Running parallel with the sports hall is a large storage area which will allow sporting equipment to be driven in and out of entrances at both ends.

Next door, a four-storey indoor children’s play area is being built.

A cycling studio will complement Middlesbrough’s existing cycle track and a new Olympic standard cycing velodrome will be completed later in the summer as part of phase two of the project.

There are other pockets of land on the site which will be available for further expansion, while the existing skate park, grass football pitches and Tennis World facilities will form part of the sports village’s final offer.