Refurbishment of 3G pitch at Eastbourne United Football Club complete

The Oval Arena 3G Training Complex on Channel View Road has been refurbished following works to install the new artificial pitch.

The refurbishment includes a complete new 3G artificial pitch but also a revamp of the facilities including the changing rooms, car parks and bar and clubhouse areas.

There’s also a new entrance area for spectators and a fully refurbished tea bar inside the ground.

Chairman Matt Thompson added: "We are part of the Princes Park area that includes the Perch restaurant, Princes mini-golf, sailing and also the Park itself. Our site has been run down for too long – now we are proud of our contribution to the town & Princes Park itself.”

The new pitch will see action for the first time when Eastbourne United host Shoreham FC on Saturday, November 2.

Plans for the refurbishment were approved in 2023, but at the time had seen objections raised by a number of local residents, who had concerns about increased activity at the site.

Some of these concerns were voiced by ward councillor Christina Ewbank (Lib Dem), who said: “There is anti-social behaviour even now with just three teams playing a week. We don’t think it is Eastbourne United, we think it is more likely to be the opposing teams.

“They sit on garden walls, they smoke cigarettes and flick them into the gardens. They’ve been peeing in the gardens of Channel View Road. They even, on one occasion redistributed the dog poo from one of our dog poo containers. There has been damage to cars in the past and there is sometimes loud karaoke music coming from the club.

“This is happening now, so what is going to happen when there are 18 teams using the club, possibly six teams at once, from nine in the morning to nine at night.

“This is going to increase parking, it is going to increase noise, it is going to increase antisocial behaviour, it is definitely going to increase pollution in terms of traffic, plastic and light pollution.”