SCORES of county footballers are hoping for a good result from a crunch decider next week which will be played at the unlikely venue of Shirehall’s chambers.

Herefordshire Council planners are set to consider two applications for all-weather pitches in Hereford on December 18.

Pegasus Juniors Football Club representatives have submitted plans for a 3G artificial turf pitch on their Old School Lane ground while the county FA also wish to develop the pitch near the Ted Powell building on Widemarsh Common.

Council officers have recommended giving the go-ahead for both schemes.

Pegasus’ proposals include floodlighting, fencing and a storage container and have the support of the Herefordshire Football Association whose representatives say there is a ‘current dire lack of these facilities’.

The local FA’s new pitch would accommodate an 11-a-side pitch and a variety of youth football, mini soccer pitches and training areas.

The existing dug outs, spectator fencing and floodlighting would be replaced while the existing spectator stand would remain.

Martin Watson, Hereford FC club secretary, said they support and encourage the extra artificial grass pitches.

He said: “During the winter months, Hereford FC sees dozens of matches postponed across its age groups due to unplayable grass pitches, and the severe limitation on the quantity of artificial grass pitches available in the county means that there is often no alternative venue available.

“Several of our age groups spent two months without playing a match last Winter due to postponements following waterlogging or freezing temperatures, meaning their participation in sport has been severely limited due purely to the limited facilities available for use.

He also said that Hereford FC currently has over 130 registered players under the age of 18 and its senior side trains in Gloucestershire due to a lack of local available artificial pitches.

Holmer Parish Council said it supported Pegasus’ proposals, but Hereford City Council objected to both plans for artificial pitches due to concerns that the materials were hazardous to children.

Connor Powell, city council officer, said: “Several councillors had done research into this area and were troubled by the possibility of allowing potentially dangerous exposure to toxic materials.

“Councillors were also concerned that the artificial pitch would mean there was nowhere for run-off rainwater to go, and were also troubled by the loss of another natural green space.”

Both applications will be considered at 2pm in the council chamber at Shirehall.