A BOLTON football club were so fed up with their kids being frustrated by waterlogged and frozen pitches during winter that they took the unusual step of building 3G pitches.

Officials from West Lancashire Football League Division Two side Ladybridge had ambitious plans and are believed to be the first club in the Bolton area to change their playing surface to increase the number of games being played.

Juniors at the club were putting the new pitches through their paces on Saturday and club bosses have yet to hold an official opening but fans were treated to a superb extravaganza of goals and slick football when the under-10s took on Westbury in the North Salford Cup competition. Club chairman Steven Hill said: “It was a great way to start a new era for the club.

“We started 25 years ago and as a club you have to keep improving and these pitches are just an example of that.

“Over the past five seasons we have had problems with pitches with ice and rain and snow on the grass which forced games to be called off.

“Our kids were disappointed about not playing and then we were also spending a lot of money on getting the pitches.

“This way we just have to keep an eye on it and provide some care and it will do us for a long time.

“I think this is the model that the Football Association are looking at across the country as they are to invest in 150 artificial surfaces.

“It is to try to get them to encourage more participation when the weather is difficult.”

Officials are trying to put the final touches on the pitch surrounds, standing areas and car parking facilities.

Hill added: “We are looking to put asphalt down around the pitch rather than stones.

“Also we are working on temporary floodlights.

“They are adequate for what we need on the pitches.

“We believe our pitch is first class and we hope that during the winter it gets a lot more usage than we normally do.

“We are very grateful to our sponsors and lots of volunteers have given their time to ensure it has happened.

“Hopefully we will be able to enjoy it for years to come.