WORK is progressing on bringing three football pitches in Exeter back into use.

A quality new playing surface is being created at the Bromham’s Farm Field site next to the Exeter Ship Canal. The site should be ready for football by 2026.

A baseball pitch is also being created on the site, which is owned by Exeter City Council.

The project is being funded by the Environment Agency, which used the location as a site compound for the city’s flood defence scheme. The fields had been used as sports pitches before the flood defence work started.

Playing surface creator Carrick Sports is carrying out the work and has already cleared the site of rubble and levelled the surface.

They have created a soil base that has already produced some grass and will be suitable for further seeding next year to enable the establishment of three quality pitches and a baseball diamond.

Carrick Sports has a good track record of creating quality playing surfaces and has done so for Premier League clubs.

Cllr Ruth Williams, Lead Councillor for City Management, said it was great to see the playing fields emerging from the rubble. She urged people to keep off the fields in the coming weeks to give the grass every chance to succeed.

“We need more quality surfaces for football teams in Exeter to enjoy, so I’m sure these will be a very welcome sight for footballers across the city,” she added.

Cllr Duncan Wood, Lead Councillor for Leisure Services and Healthy Living, said: “Football remains one of the most popular sports and that’s no different in Exeter.

“I’m delighted to see the works progressing and I can’t wait to see these pitches full of players enjoying their football in a couple of years’ time.”

He added: "I really enjoyed my 12 Moves session with Spitfires trying out baseball. It’s a fantastic sport, and it will be great to enable them to have a new home. The new baseball field will put Exeter on the map and bring teams from across the region and beyond to compete."