This grant will allow the club to install 6,600 metres of slit drainage on the pitch, and will see the playing surface scarified, de-compacted, sanded with 90 tonnes of sports sand, fetilised & seeded with 300kg of quality rye seed.

Dunston UTS Co-Chairman Tony Cleugh said: "After the atrocious weather conditions we faced last season, it was really important we carried out work on the pitch. We feel that the work we are currently undertaking will eradicate any of the issues we had with waterlogging on the pitch."

"We would like to put on record the brilliant help and understanding from the Football Foundation for this and other projects over the last few years. It truly is invaluable."