THE beautiful game is set to look even better when a new state-of-the-art pitch opens at The Dell Stadium in Brierley Hill.

A brand new floodlit 3G artificial grass pitch, developed thanks to investment from the Premier League, The FA and the Government, via Sport England, will be officially opened by The Mayor of Dudley on Wednesday May 9 at 6.30pm.

The official launch event will conclude at 7.30pm with a football match on the new pitch between Wolves All Stars and Dudley Town FC and members of the public are welcome throughout to watch.

Creation of the pitch has cost £644,000 – made up of £543,927 funding from the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund which is delivered by the Football Foundation, and £100,000 from Dudley Council.

Partner clubs will use the new pitch as a home base while Dudley Town FC, Gornal Colts FC, the Stourbridge & District Youth Football League and Wolves Community Trust are among the organisations set to take advantage of the new playing surface.

The council is also working with the Birmingham County FA and the Football Foundation to ensure people and clubs across the borough get the most out of the new pitch.

Alan Lunt, strategic director for place, said: “We are immensely proud and privileged to have this new facility and hope it will be beneficial to grassroots football in and around Dudley borough.

“We would like to thank the FA for its valued support and funding for this project, which forms part of our wider investment in leisure and sport facilities.”

Booking enquires for the new pitches should be made to area manager Steve Gay by emailing steve.gay@dudley.gov.uk