UNITED fans have already been treated to the sight of a lush new surface at the Valley Stadium after the pitch was relaid in the close season.

The work started as soon as the curtain came down on last season and, with the help of a huge grant from the Football Stadia Improvement fund, the results have been obvious in pre-season.

The club banked £27,770 from the fund to help towards the cost of pitch drainage and perimeter fencing, much of which is in place for the big kick-off.

Chairman Neil Pagett wants no repeat of the rain-hit season which prompted a glut of fixtures in successive days and attracted the attention of the national media.

With Feckenham groundsharing at the Valley and Birmingham City Ladies needing Premiership-style facilities at the ground, the pitch needs to stand up to a fair amount of punishment.

And manager Rod Brown will be hoping the first class pitch inspires his new-look team to some first class performances.