A £2.4m "state-of-the-art" football pitch has been completed which is expected to be "truly transformative" for the area.

The 3G pitch on Redbank Playing Fields in Radcliffe was finished over the winter and will be joined by a new changing pavilion and club room, plus a new 85-place car park, will be finished by July.

The new facilities, which were approved by Bury Council last year, have been funded with £1.8 million from the Premier League, The FA and government’s Football Foundation, plus a further £600,000 from the local authority.

The new, all-weather pitch at Radcliffe replaces some of the traditional grassed pitches which can be prone to waterlogging and a cause of abandoned matches.

The on-site parking includes 78 standard car spaces, four electric vehicle spaces and 12 cycle spaces to support active travel.

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Cllr Alan Quinn, cabinet member for the environment, climate change and operations, said: “The surface of a 3G provides a durable FIFA-standard quality pitch that facilitates safe, intensive, year-round play allowing games to continue in all kinds of weather.

"This fantastic new facility will give a huge boost to grassroots sport in Radcliffe and unlock - for people of all ages - football’s many benefits to physical and mental wellbeing.”

Around 77 teams will use Radcliffe 3G, which will be operated by Radcliffe Football Foundation, a partnership between Radcliffe Juniors and Radcliffe FC.

Paul Hilton at Radcliffe Football Foundation said: “The Redbank facility is truly transformative for the town and the wider community, opening up significant opportunities to promote sport, health and wellbeing through football and other initiatives.

"This state-of-the-art surface and excellent pavilion is a boost to the area and will be a huge asset for the generations to come.

“The support received from Bury Council and the funding bodies has been fantastic. 

"They have had real focus on driving this development which will be a leap forward in facility provision not only for our football clubs and Foundation but the wider community and another example of the regeneration projects ongoing in Radcliffe.”

Initially, while construction of the pavilion and car park is still ongoing, the facility will be used solely by the club for practice sessions and to catch up on missed matches.

The site will be open to other users later this year and an official opening event will be held ahead of the next football season.

Other local state-of-the-art 3G facilities are at Goshen Playing Fields in Bury and the council is currently finalising a funding bid for a further facility at Top Park in Ramsbottom.