BACKING to the tune of £45,000 has brought facilities at the Hopgrove Playing Fields Association bang up to date.

Grants from Yorwaste, City of York Council and the Asda Foundation have led to the installation of a new synthetic surface and upgraded floodlights at the Malton Road site in York.

The sports complex was opened in September 2000 and houses Heworth Football Club, Huntington Junior Football Club, Huntington Ladies Football Club, Stockton & Hopgrove Cricket Club and York Archers.

The facilities include five full-size football pitches, four mini pitches, a cricket field, an archery range and the floodlit synthetic pitch, plus a clubhouse.

The original artificial pitch desperately needed to be replaced due to wear and tear, and committee member Charles Wood thanked all the organisations that provided funds.

There was a £25,000 contribution from Yorwaste, £10,000 from City of York Council and £7,000 from the Asda Foundation.

Heworth and Huntington football clubs provided £1,500 each, while there was also backing from Deans Garden Centre and Thompsons Mill, of Murton.

Wood said: “It would have been impossible without the three major backers.

“We would probably have got there, but it would have been another year down the road.

“We needed to get the funds and get it up and running so it can earn some revenue.

“After eight years or so, the old pitch could not be hired out. It became a health and safety issue.”

The new pitch is a Tiger Turf Eva-Pro Polyetheline surface and is marked out for five-a-side football, two netball courts and two tennis courts.

The pitch is available for public hire at £20 an hour, while the association are keen to host an organised five-a-side league in the future.

“We would be competing with the likes of Roko and York College, but it seems there is a market for more five-a-side leagues in the area,” said Wood.

The pitch was officially opened with a match between the under-9s sides from Heworth and Huntington.

Further information about the complex is available by phoning 07581 137657 or by visiting the website www.hopgrovefield.co.uk