FOOTBALL teams in Horwich need a 3G pitch as there aren’t enough facilities in the town, according to a head coach.

Daniel Holmes, of Horwich St Mary’s Football Club, was responding after the hockey club held a training event with Bolton West MP Chris Green in support of their campaign to keep the astroturf.

The 3G pitch would be installed on the astroturf at Horwich Leisure Centre, with the hockey club worried they would be left with nowhere to train locally.

But Mr Holmes said that, while he sympathised with the club, the new pitch was needed in the town.

He said: “There are still simply not enough facilities in Horwich at the moment to accommodate all of the teams.

“We have some sides playing in Chorley and Westhoughton. It’s a big problem for the junior teams. Nobody wants to see any club have to move or disband or anything like that. But the simple fact is that more people who play football in Horwich. The ideal thing would be to find a way to accommodate both but the astroturf is in the perfect location.”

Christina Sanderson, treasurer of Horwich Hockey Club, said: “If Bolton Council goes ahead with the plans, we would have to go all the way out to Chorley. It is just ridiculous because we don’t think there’s anything wrong with the astroturf pitch.”

The loss of the team’s pitch would come just after the ladies’ side won the Greater Manchester League Division Four title in 2016/17.

A spokesman form Bolton Council said a decision on the pitch has not been made and ideas are still being discussed.