‘Worst football pitch in Blackburn’ patched up and now playable again

The pitch at the top of Troy Street in Bastwell was damaged in several locations, and both goal mouths had been ripped apart.

Players who used the pitch said it had been ‘left to rot’ and it had been described by others as the ‘worst pitch in Blackburn’, saying the surface was 'dangerous' but people continued to use it as they had nowhere else to go.

Parts of the fencing was also in desperate need of repair and some of the floodlights were not working.

Despite this, footballers both young and old were using the surface on a daily basis.

In August, the Lancashire Telegraph revealed that Blackburn with Darwen Council has agreed to fix the pitch, four months after concerns were first raised.

Work was conducted last week and staff could be seen patching up the sections of the turf that had been missing.

The works undertaken include some fencing repairs and pitch and lighting repairs, which some have claimed has cost £20,000.

What the pitch looked like before action was taken (Image: What the pitch looked like before action was taken)

The council revealed the repoairs are close to being fully completed, with the lighting works expected to be finished by early next week.

Once fully complete the pitch will be reopened for public use.

The council said much of the work completed has been due to general repair and maintenance 'in keeping with such a well-used facility', whilst other parts were due to damage.

Workmen fixing up the football pitch (Image: Workmen fixing up the football pitch)

The new patches on the pitch stand out like a sore thumb, with the rich green patches contrasting against the faded, yellow-green colour of the rest of the pitch.