Funding has been secured for the new Woolmer Hill 3G pitch.

Waverley Borough Council (WBC) has secured an offer from the Football Foundation – a grant-giving body funded by the Football Association, Premier League and Sport England – to fund 76 per cent of the cost of a new third-generation artificial turf pitch at the Woolmer Hill Sports Ground in Haslemere.

Last Tuesday (July 5), the council’s executive approved actions to complete the necessary checks and documentation to secure the grant.

The Football Foundation will provide £672,947 for the artificial pitch, which will be matched with £155,000 in Community Infrastructure Levy funding from Waverley.

A further £51,500 has been committed by Beacon Hill Football Club and Haslemere Town Junior Football Club.

Subject to concluding the grant process and appointing the construction contractor, the council hopes to be able to make a start this summer, with the new pitch ready for use before Christmas.

WBC portfolio holder for health, wellbeing, parks and leisure, Councillor Kika Mirylees, said: “We’re delighted that the Football Foundation has recognised the importance of supporting grassroots football in the borough and in particular, Haslemere, which has been seriously under-served in terms of the availability of quality playing surfaces.”

Neill McWilliams, of Beacon Hill Football Club, said: “We are delighted that our efforts over the past five years will soon come to fruition.

“This development has been a real community fundraising effort between Beacon Hill Football Club, Woolmer Hill Sports Association, Sport Haslemere and other local clubs, but would not have been possible with the fantastic support of Waverley Borough Council and also the Football Foundation who have provided a large part of the funding.

“Based on our ethos at Beacon Hill Football Club of ‘Football for All’ our club has grown significantly in recent years, particularly in girls’ football and disability football. The all-weather training facilities this development will bring will make a massive difference.”