FLINT TOWN UNITED will boast a new look, state-of-the-art 3G pitch next season.

The club, who have Flint’s famous footballing son Ian Rush as their club president, has made massive strides in recent years, gaining promotion back to the Cymru Premier League while this season their U18s side were Welsh Youth Cup runners-up.

While Neil Gibson’s first team, who were founder members of the League of Wales 30 years ago, have challenged for a top three place this season, the academy and junior sides continue to flourish.

Flint finished in the bottom two last season but Gibson, the former Prestatyn Town boss, was well backed by chairman Darryl Williams last summer when he pulled off the signing of the season to bring in Welsh Premier League player of the year Michael Wilde from arch rivals, Connah’s Quay Nomads.

And chairman Darryl Williams insists that getting a 3G pitch at The Essity Stadium will benefit every player who pulls on the famous black and white shirt and the whole of the Flint community, describing news of the £500,000 investment as a ‘truly historic day.’

“Flint Town United Football Club is delighted and proud to announce a major financial investment into the town of Flint and its wider community,” said Williams.

“In a few week’s time, the stadium will have a new state of the art 3G artificial pitch replacing the current grass facility.

“This will allow the local schools and community to utilise the facility for the benefit of all and we are the first club in Wales to self-fund a 3G surface.

“The club’s successful Academy will also take advantage from having a focal point for its training and match facilities.

“This is a truly historic day for Flint Town United. The club has secured a £0.5 million investment which will be hugely beneficial to the young people, the community of Flint and indeed the County of Flintshire. What a football club!”

PST Sport will carry out the project and their Sales Director Kenny Abbott said: “We at PST Sport, are delighted to be working with Flint Town FC on this exciting project. We know through our experience in this sector that the investment the club are making will deliver growth and a fantastic future for all in the community. “

News of Flint’s major investment in the playing facilities at their famous ground on the banks of The Dee Estuary comes just weeks after Penybont manager Rhys Griffiths criticised the pitch.

“The pitch shouldn’t be allowed in my opinion,” said Griffiths after his side had lost 1-0 to a Mark Cadwallader goal on March 26

“These days, to have a pitch like that - it doesn’t help Flint, it doesn’t help us.”

That didn’t go down well with Flint’s hierarchy who will be going all out to inflict another defeat on Penybont when The Silkmen travel to Bridgend on Easter Monday.

First up for Flint, who have slipped to sixth in the table, is another away trip to champions The New Saints tomorrow afternoon.

The race for runners-up spot continues with second-placed Newtown making the trip to Bala Town, who are one place below and on the same number of points.

Caernarfon host Penybont in tomorrow’s other top-six encounter.