SHAFTESBURY Youth Club's new astro-turf pitch has re-opened after a £40,000 refurbishment and a major fundraising drive is on to help pay for its future maintenance.

After seven years of intensive use, the main all-weather pitch had come to the end of its life and, for safety reasons, was closed at the end of the football season.

After a huge fundraising effort, which brought in £20,000, the club dug deep into its pockets and committed the remaining £20,000 required.

The resurfaced pitch, providing a top-of-the-range surface, is the envy of many professional football clubs. It is proving very popular with club members.

However, such a large outlay exhausted the club's reserves and the club has launched an appeal to replenish funds for future investment. Port Sunlight-based Unilever also helped out by sponsoring the Shaftesbury teams' new football kits.

John Gordon-Smith, club chairman, said: "We will be appealing to friends, patrons, parents and local stake-holders for their support in order that the club can continue to thrive. While we clearly require financial support, we would also welcome offers from friends and parents who would be happy to give a small amount of their time to help out."

He added: "Youth clubs are no different from any other business and a failure to continually improve our facilities means that we are neglecting our duties to the youth of Wirral and in particular, Prenton."

The club, in Mendip Road, Prenton, is one of the oldest youth clubs in the country, was established in 1886.