A Suffolk football club is set to get a new all-weather 3G pitch after receiving a grant of more than £1m from the Football Foundation. 

The investment, totalling £1,127,005, will enable AFC Sudbury to create the pitch, offering an enhanced experience for its grassroots and reserves team, as well as the local community. 

The club, first formed in 1999 when Sudbury Town and Sudbury Wanderers joined forces, plays at King’s Marsh in Brundon Lane, which Wanderers purchased in 1972 and were previously water meadows. 

A statement from the club said the improved facilities will replace the grass pitch that is "prone to being unplayable in the winter months". 

They added that it will allow other local teams to benefit from the facilities at AFC Sudbury which are currently at capacity.

The project has also been so far supported by an additional £165,000 from Babergh District Council and Belstead Ganzoni Settlement Charitable Trust.

Andrew Long, AFC Sudbury chairman, said: “After nearly six years of planning, everybody associated with AFC Sudbury are so pleased to see this project coming into its final stages.

"We look forward to seeing the build process and being able to offer the additional facilities, alongside our excellent stadium, for the community to benefit from.

"This has only been made possible by the professionalism and support of the Football Foundation and their grant. We are indebted to everybody who has helped make this project finally come to fruition."

Robert Sullivan, chief executive of the Football Foundation, said: “The Football Foundation is working closely with our partners – the Premier League, The FA and Government – to transform the quality of grassroots facilities in England by delivering projects like this across the country.

"Good quality playing facilities have a transformative impact on physical and mental health and play an important role in bringing people together and strengthening local communities. 

"This grant award to AFC Sudbury towards developing a new 3G pitch is fantastic news for the local community and will help give more people access to a great place to play."