We’ve had quite a few setbacks and many hurdles to overcome to get the project over the line, but the completion of the training area has transformed the stadium into a superb sporting complex, which we are rightly proud of.

- Ian Woodward

AERIAL PHOTO by Tom Carter

The 70m x 30m training pitch will provide an excellent facility to help Grant Black’s players to maintain their fitness levels when Covid restrictions are eventually lifted but will also support other sections of the club.

The club’s educational academy is still operating normally, so the students will be first to enjoy the facility that was completed just a few days ago.

And with 14 junior teams operating within in the Belper Town ‘family’ there will no lack of teams and their players itching to experience the facility first hand.

Other local clubs also stand to benefit from the availability of such a fantastic addition to the existing sporting amenities in the area.

The training pitch was created as a collaborative venture involving local plant hire and excavation company, J.C Balls and Sons, artificial pitch experts, Tiger Turf (UK) Limited and Lee Brothers Limited, who supplied and installed the perimeter fencing.

The new facility has a ‘state of the art’ playing surface that has been designed to withstand the flood conditions that occasionally affect the locality.

Nailers’ chairman, Ian Woodward is delighted with the new training area, saying, “We’ve worked incredibly hard to complete the project and so many people within the club should take the credit for making it happen.

“We’ve had quite a few setbacks and many hurdles to overcome to get the project over the line, but the completion of the training area has transformed the stadium into a superb sporting complex, which we are rightly proud of.

“The training area is the latest in a number of improvement projects that have transformed the Raygar Stadium into one of the most impressive and picturesque non-league football grounds in the country”, added the Belper chairman.