A FOOTBALL pitch in Leyland is to have a £1M revamp thanks to the National Lottery.

The ground at the Leyland Motors Sports and Social Club, is set for a complete resurfacing with artificial turf, floodlights and changing rooms.

It will be used by teams from all over the county and should make the ideal site for the Lancashire Football Association (LFA) to continue its development programme which has won national awards for the last two years running.

The LFA, which owns half the site, has been given £736,750 to pay for half the new pitch.

But the Thurston Road club which owns the other half, will have to find the same amount.

The new grounds will have facilities for training football coaches as well as providing coaching for people of all ages, ethnic groups, and abilities, including those with special needs and the disabled.

Chairman of the LFA Jim Kenyon was delighted at the news, he said: "We are hoping to start the project as soon as possible. It will be used by players from all over the county."

Director of Leisure Services for South Ribble, Colin Monk said: "When Leyland Daf went into liquidation there was a danger that the town would lose its sporting and recreational facilities. But this is fantastic."

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