TAVISTOCK Football Club will shine brightly into 2017 with the investment of new, state-of-the-art LED floodlights at its home ground at Langsford Park, due to be installed next month.

The club’s current ageing lighting, which is said to take up to 20 minutes to ‘warm up’, will be replaced by four brighter and more economic, 18-metre, galvanised steel LED floodlight pylons, which are set to be installed on March 6.

The LED floodlighting project is the culmination of a multi-stakeholder initiative made possible by funding from Tavistock Community Football Club’s Section 106 allocation, combined with grants from the Football Foundation’s Football Stadia Improvement Fund, the FA’s National Sports Centre Trust and the FA’s 11v11 Fund.

Above and beyond the financial input, Tavistock AFC have been supported and directed by Harry Riste, chief executive and founder of Grassroots Power, Lee Rider, regional facilities and investment manager at the FA and Andy Mitchell, chairman of Tavistock Community Football Club.

Lewis Daw, Tavistock’s first team captain, said: ‘The new lights will be excellent for the team as at present the visibility in certain areas of the pitch isn’t great, which has caused problems for us in the past, especially during poor weather conditions. We have a very good footballing side so having the LED lights will certainly be appreciated by all the players and the team would like to thank everyone who has made this happen.’

Tavistock AFC chairman Chris Fenner said: ‘These amazing new floodlights represent another step forward in the evolution of Tavistock Football Club, following the installation of new changing rooms, a rebuilt clubhouse and an enhanced perimeter pathway, all added to the ground during recent seasons to improve the comfort and safety of all who visit the club.

‘To be one of only a handful of grounds across the UK to be considered for this FA LED floodlighting initiative is both gratifying and humbling and stands us in good stead for years to come. I hope it can also set an example for other grassroots clubs up and down the country to embrace the power, cost and planet-saving benefits of LED.

‘All at Tavistock AFC are eternally grateful for the support shown by Harry, Lee, Andy and their colleagues in making this dream a reality and we look forward to announcing in the very near future the first fixture played under our super new lights.’