ASCOT United look set to join the growing numbers of clubs boasting an all-weather pitch next year, writes Dave Wright.

And that will see more than 800 players being given the opportunity to train and play at the Racecourse Ground.

Chairman Mike Harrison has confirmed the 3G project is well on course, saying: “We hope to receive planning permission in December with the final decision being announced by the Football Federation in late January.

“All the contractor’s tenders have been received and the project consultants will shortly make their recommendations.”

If all goes to plan, work should start next March with the pitch ready for early in the 2019-20 season.

Neil Richards, the Hellenic League club’s director of football, commented: “We have put a good plan together, so we are pretty confident it will go through. We feel we are in a good position. The whole motivation behind it is to get more of our members using the ground and we have between 800 and 900 of them.

“All of our training will be at the ground and we will be looking to play games all weekend.”

With nearly 70 teams – adults, youths and females – Ascot have to use many local venues for training purposes, with Richards commenting: “I think we take up most of the playing areas around the area – that’s virtually all the council pitches and Charters School.

“But once we get the new pitch, our teams will train here and we will rotate them to play at weekends.

“The key thing is we want all of our members to feel part of the club and have the use of our clubhouse with its catering and bar.”

Ascot are seeking a naming rights sponsor for the ground.