Mangotsfield United Football Club are really excited to share that we are hoping, in partnership with our Mangotsfield United Junior sides, and AFC Mangotsfield, to replace the pitch at Cossham Street with artificial turf. This is as a result of years of hard work behind the scenes.
This incredible investment in the area and upgrade to the facility would increase accessibility and use of the ground by schools and other organisations, the project also includes replacing the existing floodlights with more energy-efficient LED lighting on shorter columns with variable and more direct lamps, which will reduce light pollution in neighbouring areas.
Our Cossham Street pitch currently has a 2.2m drop between its highest and lowest corners, the works will see the playing surface levelled and the margins around the sides of the pitch widened to a 3m run off all around, to meet new safety guidelines to prevent head injuries to players. It is these works, which will involve expanding the ground on one side, moving the boundary 5m into the neighbouring Hut Field, which is to be retained and maintained as its used by the community as well as for some club training sessions and some of our Junior sides matches.
We held a consultation information evening at the start of September for all our neighbours, to share our plans and obtain feedback from our friends in the local community.
The current playing surface has a very limited amount of usage. An artificial pitch would be available for training not only by the first team but by partner clubs including the juniors, women’s side and AFC Mangotsfield, rugby teams, walking football teams and disability sports. We want to see to ground reborn for the benefit not just of the football clubs that play here but for the community as a whole.
The hard work that has been going on over the last few years also includes a significant amount of fundraising. The project, which will cost in the region of £1.2m, will be funded by partner clubs, local and national grants and fundraising. If permission is granted the club hopes to have funding in place by next April, with work starting at the end of the season in May.
We believe the construction phase would take about five months, which means that the team would have to start the following 2024/25 season at another ground or playing away ties before moving back to Cossham Street.
This project would be a huge positive investment into the area benefiting the whole community and help create a sustainable Club and Facility into the future
We are still looking to raise funds and have set up a Just Giving page where the community can donate to the project: Cossham Street - Project 24 - JustGiving