Alan Millward has dedicated the last five years of his professional life to improving sport facilities in the borough, but the youngsters who turn up to Monkton Stadium in Jarrow each Saturday morning are often left devastated as their weekend game is called off due to waterlogged pitches.

And the mud-soaked fields are an all too familiar sight for Mr Millward, who, as manager of South Tyneside Football Trust, had to cancel all fixtures last weekend and nearly called off Saturday's matches.

Mr Millward said: "We've already cancelled four weeks of football this season and we'll have to cancel many more.

"We are desperate for all-weather facilities at Monkton Stadium. We are not only losing fixtures, but coaching sessions during the week as well. It's a tragic situation."

South Tyneside Football Trust is planning a £650,000 project that would see all-weather football pitches, floodlights and new parking at Monkton Stadium.

In August, The Gazette's 'Pitch In For Kids' campaign to raise £50,000 for the cause was hailed a success when we raised £60,000 for the Trust.

Planning permission for the facility has already been approved, and the trust is now planning to apply for a grant bid to the UK's largest sports charity – the Football Foundation – which will decide if the project will go ahead.

Last week, the director of football development for the Football Association (FA) Sir Trevor Brooking highlighted the need for better facilities at grassroots level.

Mr Millward added: "Even Sir Trevor Brooking has highlighted the plight of the game in this country at grassroots level and the lack of quality facilities.

"We are literally miles behind our European neighbours from Norway, Denmark and Germany, who all have fabulous facilities.

"But my main concern is we in the north east, a hot bed of football, are miles behind our southern neighbours too."