Penrith AFC hope their new artificial pitch will help their club become more “sustainable”.

The Northern League Division One club’s first team played their first game on the new surface this week when they defeated Bransty Rangers 7-0 in the Fred Conway Cumberland Cup.

It follows a major renovation at Frenchfield Park costing about £885,000, with new dugouts, fencing and floodlights also in place and the pitch available for hire.

Chairman Brian Williams said: “Now everyone can see the benefits of the hard work that’s been put into the ground, and it means the club will have a sustainable future. It means we will become more of a community club.”

Funding has been provided from Westmorland and Furness Council as well as the Football Foundation.

News and Star: Penrith took on Bransty Rangers in their first first-team game on the pitch this weekPenrith took on Bransty Rangers in their first first-team game on the pitch this week (Image: EBAC Northern League)

Williams said the new facility should underline Penrith's efforts for their community.

He said: "I spoke to clubs across the country who had done similar work and the majority were positive.

“We now run 36 teams for both boys and girls – from a “nappy squad” to the senior team. With those teams come a tremendous amount of volunteers and we hope they will help with the running of the club as a whole rather than just their own team.

"We have 500 people representing the club – that’s the biggest volunteer force in Eden Valley.

Penrith, who are at Redcar Athletic on Saturday, play their first home league game on their new pitch the following weekend against Northallerton Town.