THE Lord Lieutenant of Devon, David Fursdon and Sue Hough MBE, Chair of the Football Association National Game Board were in Newton Abbot on Friday, January 14, where they jointly officially opened Devon County FA’s new 3G artificial grass pitch.

The new 3G facility has been installed at the home of The Devon County Football Association off Coach Road.

Major redevelopment, which was fortunately able to continue through the pandemic, albeit differently, has turned the previously existing grass pitch into a state-of-the-art 3G stadia complex which has become a hub for community involvement.

The redevelopment began on January 2020 and was funded with the help of a grant of £602,581 from the Premier League and the Football Association Facilities Fund and £100,000 from Teignbridge District Council.

Others who supported the project included The Football Foundation, Robinson Low Francis, SIS Pitches and Surfacing Standards.

Attendees at the official opening came from a range of organisations, clubs, leagues, partners and included other special guests.

Paul Morrison, Devon FA chief executive, told those present: "Devon County Football Association is the governing body for football in Devon.

"Our role is to unite and serve football to provide an inclusive and enjoyable experience for all.

"Coach Road is the home of football in Devon and we have worked hard to develop the premier grassroots football facility in Devon.

"As well as being a central element to our three-year strategy, our new third generation (3G) artificial grass pitch meets a key strategic priority for Teignbridge District Council and provides the local community of Newton Abbot daily access to a state-of-the-art facility, our complex houses local football clubs, community groups and residents on a weekly basis.

"We continue to host local, county, regional and national events annually and we are looking forward to developing new projects over the next two years that will increase the number of people who are able to access our facility for education, and training, as well as being available both recreationally and competitively.

"Our venue is an accessible facility for all and a facility Devon can be proud of."

Mr Morrison said that currently up to 900 players from three years-of-age and upwards and of all abilities were currently using the 3G pitch.

He added that the Devon FA Board had the aim of opening further such facilities at other locations in the county.

The Newton Abbot ground offers a floodlit full size 3G training facility with changing facilities and undercover spectator seating for a number of clubs in the local area as well as hosting the Devon County Cup finals and other grassroots league and cup fixtures.

Separate Clubhouse facilities for events are available separately for hire which can include bar facilities.

Programmes and groups already at or using the new facility include: Association of Colleges, Age UK, Buckland Athletic, Chudleigh Athletic Youth, Devon Ability Counts League, Devon Advanced Girs Coaching Centre, Devon Schools FA, English Colleges FA, Fit for Fed, Fusion FC, Ipplepen Athletic Youth, Juventus South West, Kingsteignton Athletic Youth, Newton Abbot Bridge Club, Newton Abbot Spurs, Newton Fire, Paignton Saints, Pioneer Youth League, Plymouth Argyle Community Trust, R and T Tours, Sunday Night Sports Club, Torquay Academy, Torquay United Community Sports Trust, Total 14 and Watts Blake Bearne Youth.

Bernard Leach, Chairman, Devon FA Board of Directors, thanked all those who had made the facility possible, paying special thanks to Devon FA staff, especially Chris French, the County Development Manager, and Matt Barrett, Devon FA’s 3G facility manager, who lead the project.

Sue Hough said: ’I congratulate Devon FA on this achievement. It is one thing to sit around in a boardroom talking about providing a facility like this but when it gets down to it the hurdles that have to be overcome can be enormous.

"I congratulate all those involved, it will help Devon FA achieve an even greater impact."

David Fursdon congratulated all involved in the project and said he was thrilled that Devon FA wanted to achieve similar 3G facilities in other parts of Devon.

Following the opening there was a demonstration of footballing skills and local teams demonstrated use of the pitches.

To conclude the event, Tim Foster, from The FA, presented Devon FA with a certificate in recognition of achieving the Foundation Level in the Equality Standard for Sport.