Some very welcome news, as the project for the replacement of the current pitch commences.
It has been a project three years in the making and has been dependent on the support of various agencies.
First of all we are extremely grateful and thankful to The Football Foundation who have approved a project grant of £400,000 to FC Halifax Town Ltd and Calderdale
Council as the Stadium owners. This will cover the installation of an all new ‘hybrid’ pitch with accompanying sub-structure including new drainage, new layers and a ‘Hero’ carpet which equates to a 95% grass and 5% synthetic pitch structure. This provides for a more robust pitch than a standard installation, increased capacity for games to be played and has the approval of the EFL for entry into their League, should FC Halifax Town achieve promotion.
On top of the £400,000, the remaining cost of the project will be shared by Calderdale Council, Halifax Panthers and FC Halifax Town. To all these partners a sincere thank you.
Special mention needs to be made in respect of Dr Richard Earl of TGMS and PSD Agronomy who has provided a professional study and recommendations, along with creating a specification, garnering quotations from various contractors and overseeing the execution of the project. His approach to the project has been of the highest professional standard and he has played a very important role in bringing the project to a point of installation and ultimately completion.
Finally, having presided over a thorough and rigorous quotation process, we are delighted to confirm a West Yorkshire based local company Chappelow Sports Turf Ltd has been awarded the contract who will be seeking to start immediately.
The plan is for the major groundworks works and re-fill to be completed by the latest 30th June allowing then time for the seed to establish and produce a thick grass sward to facilitate fixtures being played in the early part of the football season.
David Bosomworth: Chairman – FC Halifax Town
‘What a relief we have reached the conclusion we have. Hopefully the anxiety of looking at weather forecasts days out from forthcoming matches, rainfall permutations, travelling arrangements of Clubs will be a thing of the past. Not to mention all the postponements suffered with accompanying financial costs and the difficulties of playing on a poor surface due to the deficiencies of the pitch structure. Congratulations to everyone involved and let’s enjoy the benefits going forward and thank you’.
Damian Clayton MBE: Chief Executive Officer – Halifax Panthers Rugby League
‘Great news. A solution that helps to safeguard the ongoing playing of Football and Rugby League into the future. The quality of the pitch will help contribute to increased entertainment with a quality surface to play on. Thank you to everyone to has been involved in this project’
It is intended to provide some social media content regarding the pitch on a weekly basis via the socials.
There will be no further comment following this announcement.
