Altrincham FC invited special guests to their J Davidson Stadium home last week as they officially opened a new playing surface made possible with a grant from the Premier League's Football Stadia Improvement Fund (FSIF).
A Manchester United XI played Altrincham in a pre-season friendly on Friday to mark the completion of work on a pitch that has benefitted from major improvements funded with the help of £20,000 from the FSIF.
The venue, which is also used by United's Under-18s, has had a season severely disrupted by postponements but now has a state-of-the-art irrigation system and pitch maintenance equipment.
"Without funding from the Premier League, clubs such as Altrincham FC would find it impossible to maintain a good standard of facility for players and spectators," said chairman Grahame Rowley. "We are extremely grateful for their ongoing support."
The FSIF is funded by the Premier League, delivered by the Football Foundation and is the country's largest provider of grants towards projects that help improve the comfort and safety of lower league football grounds in both the professional and amateur game.
It is not the only funding Altrincham have received of late. Last year, former Man Utd manager Sir Alex Ferguson opened a new community sports hall at the club, completed with the help of grants of £114,880 from the FSIF and £269,470 from the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund.
The match against Manchester United XI ended in a 2-1 victory for the visitors, with Tosin Kehinde and Callum Gribbin scoring United's goals after Damian Reeves had given Altrincham the lead.
To watch Gribbin's winning goal, visit the report page on manutd.com.
