Pic: Bala Town FC
WALES national team boss Chris Coleman has praised Bala Town after the Lakesiders confirmed they will become the latest Welsh Premier side to play on 3G.
Bala, who are second behind leaders The New Saints heading into the weekend, were successful in applying for a grant from the Football Association of Wales, through the governing body's Project 3G which is funded by the UEFA Hat-Trick programme.
The majority of the cost is being funded by the grant of £350,000 and the club has also secured funding from Gwynedd Council in close conjunction with their education department to ensure the project could get the green light.
Work to install the synthetic playing surface, as well as upgraded floodlights, at Maes Tegid will begin in the summer and should be ready for the start of next season.
Wales boss Coleman said: “When you think of the awful weather the country has experienced in recent months, the 3G facility allows players of all ages and abilities to enjoy the game of football throughout the year. The FAW, Bala Town and its partners in this initiative deserve huge credit.”
Bala Town chief executive officer Nigel Aykroyd added: “The football club aims to work in partnership with Gwynedd Education through all the schools in the surrounding area to encourage a significant rise in physical activity by providing this state of the art playing surface.
“The club's intentions are to make Maes Tegid a hub for community activity; stimulate collaboration with local partners and other users, deliver wider economic regeneration, social inclusion, and extensive health and social benefits for the community.
“In addition, the pitch will be used extensively by our academy at all ages from eight to 19 and by Bala Juniors FC who are always struggling to find suitable pitches for their matches. The facility will also be available for hire to other football and sports clubs in the area.
“We suffer more than most in the Welsh Premier with match postponements each season due to the area's exceptionally high rainfall levels. We hope that this will become a thing of the past and that the loss of high profile televised matches on S4C's Sgorio will not be repeated.
“This is a giant step forward for football and the community and I would like to thank the FAW, UEFA, and Gwynedd Council for their support in making this dream a reality.”
