A football club and its players have welcomed the decision to build new all-weather pitches at a sports complex.

Four small-sided 3G football pitches will be built at the Withdean Sports Complex in Tongdean Lane, Brighton, which will be complete with floodlighting for year-round use.

The facility aims to meet strong demand across the city for such pitches and build on the legacy of the Women’s Euro 2022 tournament - which saw matches played at the Amex Stadium.

Dave Bridges, chairman of AFC Varndeanians, said: “As an established club playing football at Withdean Stadium, AFC Varndeanians are delighted with the addition of 3G pitches for the wider community.

“We can utilise these new pitches ourselves for our walking football team and ladies' social team.

“It will be a very important addition to facilities in the area.”

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Work to build the pitches will start later this year on an area near the athletics track, currently used as an overspill car park.

Providing the new 3G pitches in Withdean is one of the recommendations in Brighton and Hove City Council’s Sports Facilities Investment Plan, which outlines how sport in the city will be developed over the next decade.

The plan will see Withdean Sports Centre become one of three major sport and leisure hubs within the city, along with a new King Alfred Leisure Centre and a proposed new leisure centre at the site of the Prince Regent Swimming Complex.

Councillor Alan Robins, chairman of the council’s culture, heritage, sport, tourism and economic committee, said: “This new football facility at Withdean will provide so many opportunities for training and recreational play, not just for our local football clubs, but for our schools and community groups in the surrounding area.

“It’s great to see Withdean developing as a major sporting hub, as proposed in our Sports Facilities Investment Plan, and enhancing our growing reputation as a major sporting city.”

Over the last few years, pitches at Stanley Deason and Portslade have been refurbished by the council and are now regularly used for training by various clubs and charitable organisations.

They include Albion in the Community and Whitehawk, Mile Oak and Hangleton Rangers football clubs.