Club gets new pitch as part of £3bn pipeline work

A children's football club has kicked off the season with a new seven-a-side pitch built as part of a giant £3bn water pipeline.

United Utilities funded the new pitch at Bolton Avenue Recreation Ground to keep Huncoat United Junior FC in their village while major tunnelling works take place.

The club's original pitch was needed for the project to upgrade the 70-year-old Haweswater Aqueduct, which supplies water from the Lake District to Lancashire and Greater Manchester.

Club treasurer John Stitt said the new pitch was "well worth the wait", adding: "As the kids say, it is 'class'."

The project involves major work on land off Bolton Avenue, which affected the football club and led to controversial plans to move it from its current base for several years, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

North West water supplier United Utilities and Hyndburn Council originally proposed to move Huncoat United Junior FC to two newly-created pitches at Great Harwood’s Memorial Playing Fields.

But following negotiations involving the club, Hyndburn Council, United Utilities, local councillors and then-MP Sara Britcliffe, an agreement was eventually reached to create a replacement pitch elsewhere on Bolton Avenue playing fields, allowing the club to remain in Huncoat.

Club treasurer John Stitt said: "Huncoat Utd will be forever grateful to United Utilities for replacing our old pitch."

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