CASH confiscated from criminals has been used to lay a new artificial football pitch.

The state-of-the-art Fifa 3G pitch at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld cost £380,000 using money obtained from the Scottish Government's CashBack for Communities scheme.

Youth football team Cumbernauld Colts received the grant following an application for funding to develop new facilities.

The scheme aims to return the proceeds of crime back into communities.

The Colts, formed in 1969, investigated a number of potential locations, and chose Broadwood Stadium as their new home.

The club agreed a partnership with North Lanarkshire Council, who contributed £70,000 to the project, site owners North Lanarkshire Leisure, the Scottish Football Association and sportscotland.

As principle funders of the new pitch, the Colts have access for training and competitions, with Clyde FC using the stadium for their SFL home fixtures.

Blane Dodds, chief executive of North Lanarkshire Leisure, said: "This will breathe a new lease of life into the stadium.

"With the new surface, we will be able to host numerous matches and training sessions.

"Every Saturday, will see around 500 young people playing at the stadium.

"As well as accommodating Clyde and Cumbernauld Colts, the pitch will also be available for other teams throughout the area to hire."

Stewart McKenzie, chairman of Cumbernauld Colts, said: "This is a proud moment in the history of the club.

"Having nearly folded in 1999, myself and a group of parents and coaches took over the running of the club.

"The CashBack funding rewards the hard work put in by many people at the club over the years and recognises that we were one of the first Community Clubs in Scotland to achieve the SFA's prestigious Club Mark accreditation."

The pitch was installed by local firm Greenfields Sports Turf Systems and is the same surface which is installed at many professional football clubs around Europe including SFL clubs Airdrie and Forfar.

stef.lach@ heraldandtimes.co.uk