HARROGATE TOWN boss Simon Weaver says the club’s planned 3G pitch will “really enhance our prospects” as the club target promotion from the National League North next season.
Town finished fourth before losing out in the play-off semi-finals to AFC Fylde last month and will be hoping to go one step further next term.
And they’ll be kicking off the new campaign on plastic after revealing a new 3G pitch will be laid down at the CNG Stadium with work starting on May 23.
The 2 Star artificial grass pitch is sanctioned by the FA, FIFA and the National League and Harrogate boss Weaver said: “It’s such an exciting proposition for myself. We’ve got a lot of good players and it will really enhance our prospects considering the style we like to play.
“We train on 3G and the lads have done really well on it so there will be no excuses. The surface we’ve trained on has produced some great sessions where we’ve been able to get the most out of the players.
“The ultimate aim is to find the best local talent and make Harrogate Town the sports hub for the area. Having everybody training at our home ground can only be a positive.
“The old plastic pitches used to have a bad reputation but there has been a lot of technology put into the new 3G surfaces. We’ve done a lot of research into other Non-League clubs who have gone down this route like Maidstone and Sutton and they have had no issues with it.
“The CNG Stadium has really become a fortress for us, and now the playing surface will help us give the fans more of the dynamic, fast-paced football they’ve grown accustomed to.”
Harrogate are also backing the installation of a 3G pitch at nearby St John Fisher Catholic High School with both that and the new surface at the CNG Stadium providing the local community with top facilities.
Managing director Garry Plant added: “This is a monumental day, both for the football club and the local community.
“The development at St John Fisher will allow the club to play a much bigger part in the community, with a usage plan developed in conjunction with the Football Foundation and West Riding County FA we can ensure this state-of-the-art facility will be accessible for everyone in the area.
“Outside of school hours, the 3G will be managed entirely by ourselves, and will be available for hire by the public as early as this September.”
