WATERLOGGED grounds are one of the main the reasons why Ilkley Town are planning to install an artificial football pitch at Ben Rhydding.

The wet weather and flooding has seen the club’s senior and junior teams have many of the matches washed out. They have also been unable to train.

The lengthy list of postponements is a big blow but now the club believe the answer lies in their ambitious plans for a floodlit 3G pitch.

The £675,000 scheme should dramatically reduce the number of postponements and provide a facility that can be used by the community and Ilkley Grammar School.

Club marketing officer Martyn Paul said: “This winter has brought home exactly why we need to have an all-weather pitch (right).

“The amount of football lost has been considerable this season and we want to provide a facility that will help us to stage matches on a good surface all the year round.”