Forfar Athletic FC are to replace their grass pitch with a £325,000 synthetic surface this summer after a surprise cash donation.
The move comes after the club lost out on a five-figure sum last season when their traditional grass surface at Station Park was rendered unplayable for 65 days, leading to six matches being postponed.
The synthetic surface offers more protection against the elements and should lead to fewer games being called off in the future.
Last March Forfar Farmington, the area’s female team, was allocated a £300,000 award ”out of the blue” in a scheme to plough crooks’ cash back into grassroots football across Scotland.
The leading female club initially looked to install an all-weather pitch at their home at Market Muir however, it ran into difficulties when they realised significant additional funding would be required to build fences around the new pitch.
They then linked up with Forfar Athletic, who are ready to begin the eight-week installation of the pitch as soon as their season finishes.
Director David McGregor described the opportunity as one that was ”too good to miss”.
He said: ”Forfar Farmington received the money out of the blue under the cashback from criminals scheme. Last season our ground was out of action for 65 days, during which time we were due to play six games. It meant we lost around a five-figure sum.
”3G synthetic pitches are not all-weather but they are more resilient against the conditions.
”In many ways you’d like to play on grass as a senior club, but synthetic pitches are becoming more and more common.
”There are four clubs, including Montrose, who currently have synthetic pitches.”
The FIFA two-star pitch itself will cost £325,000, with another £20,000 for professional fees, £10,000 for maintenance equipment and £15,000 for contingencies.
A total of £350,000 has been found, made up of the £300,000 grant, £20,000 from Forfar Athletic, £5,000 from Forfar Farmington and £25,000 from Angus Council’s leisure services.
A meeting of Angus Council will consider funding the remaining £20,000 from the Forfar Common Good Fund at a meeting on Thursday.