Leiston youth coach, Neil Smye, says there will be huge benefits to young footballers not just at Leiston, but football clubs in the surrounding area when the Blues new 3G pitch is finished this summer.

Neil, pictured, is lead development coach, up to the U23s, at Victory Road, and a former academy coach at Colchester United. He knows only too well how a quality 3G pitch like the one being proposed at Leiston Football Club, will enhance young players’ experiences.

“You only have to look at academies at professional clubs and the pitches their young players train on each day to see why football is heading the way it is, with so much football played on the ground these days,” he said.

“To have a pitch like that at Leiston will make a huge difference and have huge benefits to the way our young players play. And of course not just at Leiston, but clubs in and around us, the whole community, who will be able to play and train on it.

“Grass pitches can be bumpy and bobbly. We encourage our young players to play out from the back, not just in training, but in real game situations.

“It’s about being brave and not being results-driven at the younger age groups, which we are not.

“It also allows young players to be coached the way our Leiston first team are coached. It’s a pathway for them towards the first team. Having a quality 3G pitch will be a big plus.”

A recent public meeting at the LTAA in Victory Road, Leiston’s home ground, updated fans on progress of the Project, which is gathering momentum.

The club's chair Andy Crisp said: “Since we announced our intentions a few months ago, it has been all go.

“We are eating away at our target thanks to some wonderful funding from East Suffolk Council, Leiston Town Council and the Premier League Support Fund.

“We have had numerous other donations as well and our target is now down to £230,000 – still a lot of money – but we are confident with the interest that has already been shown, we will get there.”

If you or your business would like to know more about the Project and how you may be able to get involved, contact Andy Crisp at Acrisp5@aol.com