MAYOR of Cirencester Nigel Robbins sees the new £500,000 3G pitch at Cirencester Town's Football club as a key element in the Kingshill Lane area becoming the sporting hub of the town, writes Danny Hall.

Robbins cut the ribbon with club chairman Steve Abbley at the grand opening of the superb new pitch on Sunday when a number of youth football matches as well as a charity game for adults took place. It continued Robbins' long association with the club.

"We have the grass football pitches at Kingshill used by a number of local teams, a wonderful skate park and now this superb artificial grass pitch," he said.

Abbley added: "When Nigel was principal of Cirencester College, he championed the setting up of our football academy – the first of its kind in the country – and I was delighted to be able to invite him back to open the pitch.

"I don’t think it is appreciated around the town what a big deal this is and what we have done.

"There has been a near-£500,000 investment here with the FA putting up 70 per cent of the cost. They didn't choose Cheltenham, Swindon or Gloucester for the funding, they chose little old Cirencester.

"You have to look at the bigger picture; this is not just a state of the art facility for Cirencester Town FC but for all local kids wanting to play football."

Already Stratton Youth, South Cerney YFC, Fairford & Lechlade Youth FC, Ashton Keynes FC, Stroud FC and the Cirencester Pilgrims have asked to use the pitch.

Abbley continued: "This is the realisation of four years' work. It is a major step forward for football in Gloucestershire.

"We will set up a five-year plan and I will drive that plan to get the facility fully utilised.

"It just saddens me that despite making a lot of positive noises both the Cotswold District Council and the Cirencester Town Council have not put up a penny towards this project."