A pitch in time – new artificial facility gives improving Patchway Town a boost

PATCHWAY Town say the signs are positive that they’re getting it right again – and that applies as much to off-field business as on it, writes Simon Parkinson.

While the Scott Park side have dusted themselves down with some purpose following last season’s grim Marcliff Gloucestershire County League basement battles, efforts are intensifying over the installation of a new artificial community 3G pitch they say can make all the difference when it comes to those all-important practice ground sessions.

The club’s long-serving former player and secretary Richard Ashley explained: “We’re working closely with Patchway Sports and Social Club and Patchway Town Council with the support of Sport England, something our treasurer Jason Franklin has been involved in since day one.

“A lot of funding for the pitch is coming from the new housing development. The surface is to be laid on the old concrete court at our site which is currently used for other sporting activities.

“We’ve been training at Little Stoke but once this new artificial pitch is up and running we’ll be able to train there and it’s going to be of tremendous benefit to the club.

“It’s another example of the real turnaround taking place at Patchway Town FC. Everyone wants to be involved again with us and players – some good ones at that – are enquiring and wanting to be part of what’s happening here.”

 Patchway’s new chairman Andy England, a one-time defender and reserve team manager as well as long-time second-string secretary at Scott Park, added: “We were close to packing up the club altogether at Christmas and the Bristol and District League thankfully gave us a few weeks’ grace without fixtures as we were also struggling to get a reserve team out.

“That meant we could concentrate completely on what was happening with our first team.

“Now things are moving forward with Phil Vice in charge and because of his own regular playing commitments he’s got two assistants in Tom Vaughan, who was our reserves boss, and Paul Woodward, who knows the club well having been a defender here back in the day when Kevin Horseman was manager.

“We also have a new reserve team manager in Gareth Strange who managed Oldbury in the Suburban League last year.

“He has brought in a lot of players which obviously helps the club as a whole as we all train together and a couple of them, including (midfielder) Rafe Pfitzman, have made it through to our firsts.

“We’re putting out two competitive squads again and it’s just encouraging all round the positive changes that have taken place over the summer and long may it continue.”