Pitch shortage a problem for Newport Town

A desperate shortage of football pitches in Newport could force the town's leading team to look elsewhere to play its home matches, the club's chairman Phil Lewis has warned.

Newport now has just one full-size football pitch, on Shuker Fields, following the closure of the Audco Playing Pitches earlier this year.

There were two pitches at Audco but the land has now been earmarked for homes.

That has led to even more people using Shuker – and Newport Town FC chairman Mr Lewis said: "We have considered finding a new pitch elsewhere, but we haven't spoken to anyone outside of Newport yet.

"Shuker is so over-played that it's completely dug up.

"This town needs more pitches. Wellington, Bridgnorth, Shifnal, Whitchurch – they all have proper facilities.It is a crying shame a town of this size which is football mad doesn't have the same."

Shuker Fields normally plays host to two matches each weekend and occasionally a mid-week school fixture as well. And each Saturday morning up to 350 children from Nova Football Club use it to train.

It is also used by the public, the home of the Newport Carnival and earlier this year a travelling circus set up shop on the fields.

Shuker Fields is owned by Telford & Wrekin Council but maintained by Nova at a cost of around £7,000 a year.

Nova chairman David Middleton said discussions were ongoing with Telford & Wrekin Council about how to improve the facility.