Pic: Redditch United FC
REDDITCH UNITED have been given the green light to install a 3G playing surface at their Valley Stadium home.
The Reds were looking into building a new stadium but talks with the local council broke down before the FA turned down a proposal for the club to play at Edgar Street early last year following the demise of Hereford United.
The club have now been given a boost, however, with Redditch Borough Council granting them planning permission for a new synthetic pitch. They also want to improve the changing rooms and other facilities at the Valley.
The Reds are hoping to obtain financial backing from the FA’s grass-roots scheme and Stadium Improvement Fund and club chairman Chris Swan says he will back the project with around £200,000 of his own cash.
The Evo-Stik League Southern Premier side already run 42 teams and a 3G pitch is the next step in bringing the community closer to the club.
Swan told the Redditch Advertiser: “If we get the go-ahead to install a 3G pitch, we would increase our total to over 60 sides making us the biggest in the Midlands.
“We can already lay claim to being the second biggest behind Rugby, but getting the financial go-ahead would take it to a new dimension. It’s so important to target the youngsters because they are our future players and supporters.
“Since I’ve been here, we’ve already seen six players go into full-time football and we’ve got two more being watched by full time sides at the moment.
