FOOTBALL teams have welcomed the revealed location of the new 3G pitch in Horwich.

The new facility will be constructed at the current all-weather pitch in Old Station Park, next to the leisure centre.

It follows a long campaign by local sports teams who have been pushing for improved sporting features in Horwich.

Daniel Holmes, first team manager at Horwich St Mary’s, said: “It is an ideal scenario because we could book training sessions and games for the junior teams.

“We have recently been cancelling training sessions because of the weather but now with this pitch it will mean juniors will get regular football throughout the winter.

“I think it can be a great facility if it is maintained right and run properly.

“This is a massive, massive improvement to the current facility.

The project was announced by the authority more than a year ago and it will be the second 3G pitch to be completed as part of £1.5million of capital funding, which the council agreed in February, 2016. The other pitch was completed recently in Westhoughton.

It will be able to accommodate training slots for up to 60 teams per week and at the weekend.

But the plans for the facility to be created at the current all-weather pitch had long been opposed by Horwich Hockey Club, which trains at the pitch.

Members of the team claimed the club would have to move out of Horwich as hockey can not be played on a 3G pitch.

The club has yet to respond to the announcement and is currently preparing a statement. It is not known whether a solution has been worked out.

But Mr Holmes sympathised with the club and said: “It was never meant to be an us versus them situation.

“But from a footballing point of view, it was a better option to have a 3G pitch.

“You have got to sympathise with the hockey club but the demand for football in Horwich is tenfold.”

A contractor will be appointed shortly, with work due to commence in the autumn.

It will be managed by Bolton Community Leisure Trust.

Bolton Council’s executive cabinet member for regeneration and resources, Cllr Ebrahim Adia, said: “Along with the new leisure centre, this will provide a brilliant range of modern, high quality leisure facilities for the people of Horwich and the surrounding areas.

“We hope that this will encourage more people to get involved in sport, as well as improving health and wellbeing across the borough.”

Building work will involve replacing the fencing, new lighting and the new 3G surface.