Etherley's revamped football pitch aims for kick-off in 2018

IT’S still “a work in progress” but football could return to Etherley for the start of the 2018-19 season.

The disused pitch is being reclaimed thanks in the main to a £63,000 grant given by Sport England in 2015 which has covered much of the cost.

Since then the ground has been levelled, drainage installed and the whole pitch reseeded.

The football ground adjoins Etherley CC’s cricket pitch and officials hope the new drainage will have the knock-on effect of improving the sometimes boggy cricket outfield.

The work is being overseen by Etherley Colliery Welfare Trust, which manages the ground on behalf of the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation, which owns the land. John Raw, who has been involved in project, said: “The football pitch is still a work in progress, but the intention was always to have it ready for August 2018.”

The full cost of the football pitch renovation is likely to be more than £80,000, with support coming from Teesdale Action Partnership and local fundraising.

Meanwhile, further improvements are being made to the sports ground thanks to £8,000 the welfare trust secured from Tesco’s Bags of Help scheme.

A new artificial cricket strip and net, along with protective cage, has been installed next to the existing multi-use games compound, and five benches have been brought in – three on the cricket boundary and two for the football touchline.

Mr Raw said one of the cricket benches would be dedicated to former club captain Reg Tallentire, who died in his 90s earlier this year.

“Reg played for Etherley from 1937 to 1963 and was captain for much of the 1950s,” he said.

“He was also a chairman of the district council and a parish councillor.”

Mr Raw said it was hoped some of Mr Tallentire’s family would come along when the seat plaque is unveiled.

He said next on the improvement agenda at the ground are repairs to the entrance to remove deep potholes.

The latest round of improvements to the Etherley welfare ground comes on top of an earlier Sport England grant which paid for new changing facilities.

Repairs to the tea hut have also been carried out.