New 3G football pitch planned for Moorways Stadium

Published: 23 May 2024

A new 3G pitch is to be created at Moorways Stadium in Derby. Derby City Council is leading a group of partners in the development of the project, which will give grassroots sport for everyone in the city a further boost.

The stadium’s current sand dressed pitch will be converted into a larger, 3G surface that can be used for both football and rugby. Beyond the pitch itself, the surrounding fencing will be replaced and new efficient LED floodlighting installed. The athletics straight will also be resurfaced.

The £825,000 project will be part-funded by the Council, with most of funding coming from a Football Foundation grant. It comes as three full-size 3G pitches were recently opened at the city’s new state-of-the-art Football Hub at Derby Racecourse.

The project is a collaboration between the Council, Everyone Active, which operates Moorways Sports Village and Stadium, Derbyshire County Football Association, Allenton United FC, Derby Athletic Club, Field Lane FC, Rolls Royce RUFC and Pride Park FC.

The plans have been shaped by the views of the public, who were consulted by the Council and Everyone Active as the project developed.

Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Derby City Council Cabinet Member for City Centre, Regeneration, Culture and Tourism, said:

The creation of a new 3G pitch at Moorways Stadium will be a further boost to grassroots football in Derby, as the number of teams in the city, across all ages, increases year on year. It’s not just about football, though – this project will also improve facilities for rugby and athletics.

We’ve listened to the public to ensure the new pitch will truly serve the community and be enjoyed by all. It’s fantastic to work alongside our partners to develop another facility that we can all be proud of, as we continue to promote health and wellbeing for everyone in the city.

Simon Morgan, Everyone Active’s contract manager, said:

It’s fantastic news that Moorways Stadium will be getting a 3G pitch and resurfaced athletics straight among a variety of upgrades.

These improvements will make Moorways Stadium an even better accompaniment to the state-of-the-art facilities we have next door at Moorways Sports Village and Everyone Active is proud to manage these on the Council’s behalf.

The current sand-dressed pitch at Moorways was installed in 1987 and refurbished in 2001. It has now reached the end of its useful life.

Partners have also consulted with England Hockey and Sport England, who confirm there will be an adequate supply of sand dressed artificial turf pitches to support hockey in Derby when the Moorways pitch is converted

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