OKEHAMPTON Argyle hosted their first ever match on an artificial pitch this weekend when taking up the offer to use the new 3G pitch at the grounds of The Manor and Ashbury Hotels for their fixture against Exwick Villa.

It proved a great debut on the all- weather facility and a shot in the arm to the club, who like many teams are frustrated by the number of matches having to be postponed due to waterlogged pitches.

Club spokesman Russell Metherell told Times Sport: ‘The use of the Ashbury pitch to avoid further cancellations, has highlighted the importance of the proposed 3G pitch in Simmons Park. Consultations between Okehampton College, OCRA, and both the senior and youth sections of the football club have led to a plan for a 3G pitch with a running track around it being submitted to Okehampton Town Council. With the Okehampton climate delivering a very wet winter the grass pitches have been largely out of use, so the students at the college have had little chance for any outdoor exercise since November and the football club has had over 20 postponed matches, across all age groups, in the same period.

‘The proposals would allow the college constant day time use for their sports lessons on both the pitch and athletics facilities as well as evening and weekend use by local clubs.

‘Okehampton is lacking an athletics club, so anyone keen to progress needs to travel to Tavistock or Exeter, to use a track. It is hoped that this will lead to the development of a new club and there is already interest being shown in this area.

‘As the land owners, the town council need to approve the proposals before they are submitted for planning permission with the hope that work can commence in the summer. All parties involved are excited about having the opportunity to see Okehampton catch up with other area in terms of sporting facilities and are eagerly awaiting the council’s decision.’

Steve Harris, the general manager of the The Manor and Ashbury Hotels welcomed Argyle.

He said: ‘It is with great pleasure that the Manor House and Ashbury Hotels can offer support again to Okehampton Argyle, and especially their youth sections, by allowing use of our multi-use pitches and also our brand new 3G pitch to complete competitive games that would otherwise have faced postponement.

‘This winter seems to have been incessant in terms of rainfall which has had a massive detriment to the local sports programmes with numerous games falling victim to the weather again this year. This year we have been inundated with requests from sports clubs from South Molton down to Paignton, and when we can, we are delighted to be able to offer some respite through use of our pitches, especially to keep the youth of the local area playing sport.

‘With the increase in demand from all over the country to use our new FA accredited 3G pitch however, there could be massive limitations in the future. The UK’s weather certainly doesn’t seem to be improving and so state-of-the-art synthetic surfaces are the way forward to keep the youth of today playing the games they love, regardless of the weather.

‘Our 3G pitch underwent rigorous tests to ensure it is compliant with FIFA and WRU regulations with regards to player safety and playability and is most definitely the way forward for local sport with the increasing pressures put on the traditional grass pitches.’