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AFC Sudbury have announced that the club's new 3G pitch at the Wardale-Williams Stadium has been approved.Testing authority Sports Lab completed a FIFA Grade 2 Level Compliance test this week. The test examines several factors including player and ball reaction with the pitch.
The approval allows the pitch to be used by Jamie Godbold's first-team squad for a training session tonight, ahead of Saturday's Ryman North match with Romford (3pm kick-off).
The club wants to thank John Smith, who was head of the project, along with all the club officials and volunteers to help make the 3G pitch a success.
AFC have become the first non-league club in Suffolk to have an all-weather pitch. The pitch will be used by the club's senior teams, and be used for developing youth teams, which could attract new players to the club.
The club first announced they would have a 3G pitch in April.
What is a 3G Pitch?
A 3G pitch is a surface made from synthetic blades, sand and rubber, to make it look like grass. They are used by clubs at grounds and training arenas throughout Europe and the world.
Non-league side Maidstone United proved the pitch to be successful in the Ryman Premier, and it has now been approved for usage in the Emirates FA Cup and the Vanarama National League (Conference). Maidstone announced that they gained a high turnover, following events held on the 3G pitch.
These can be played on in all-weather, allowing for no matches to be postponements.
The pitches was banned from football in 1995, after being used at QPR, Luton Town, Preston, and Oldham Athletic the previous decade.
