Thurstable School in Tiptree has opened its new state-of-the-art football pitch.

The full-size floodlit pitch is one of only four of its kind in schools across the country and features the latest in surface technology.

The £400,000-plus pitch, approved by football regulators FIFA and UEFA, will be open to the public from next week and is part of the £2.5m work on facilities since the school gained Sports College status two years ago.

Although the pitch is artificial, the design is so much like grass that the same pitches are used at football Premiership side Aston Villa and top rugby club Wasps.

. The facilities at the school are available for the community.

Published Thursday June 17, 2004

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