Yorkshire based football team, Clifford Juniors, has been crowned the winner of a pitch makeover competition called Pitch to Win and will receive £3,000 to renovate its pitch.

Until recently playing space for Clifford Juniors was limited, having to share the facilities with the adult teams which meant the pitch rapidly became damaged. Fortunately, the opportunity recently arose for the team to take ownership of a disused cricket pitch which will become home to the junior team from September 2015. However, it needs considerable work to make the pitch playable.

This led team coach, John Tilbrook, to enter the Pitch to Win competition, ran by leading global petrol engine manufacture for lawnmowers and outdoor power equipment, Brigg & Stratton in partnership with the Institute of Groundsmanship (the IOG).

Ian Small, sales and marketing manager for Briggs & Stratton UK, commented: “Clifford’s application stood out instantly. Community spirit is always something we look for when judging Pitch to Win and it was apparent that winning would make a huge difference to this club. It’s great to be able to help a team like Clifford Juniors and I can’t wait to see what the pitch looks when the work is complete”.

The team were shortlisted to the final three and then a representative from the IOG visited to carry out a pitch inspection. The team will now receive a new kit sponsored by Briggs & Stratton and a tailor-made maintenance plan from the IOG to assist them with the £3,000 makeover.

On the team’s victory, coach John Tilbrook said: “We are absolutely delighted to have won the Briggs and Stratton Pitch to Win competition. We now have the foundation in place for our club to continue the meteoric growth it has experienced since Pete O’Brien started the club four years ago. In that time our attendance has grown from 7 to nearly 70 children attending on a weekly basis.” 

The competition also has winners from rugby league and cricket, all receiving a £3,000 makeover. Later in the year the three winners will battle it out to receive a further £1,000 winter maintenance top-up as well as being crowned the overall winner of Pitch to Win.