FORMER Scotland goalkeeper and sports commentator Bob Wilson says Hatfield will soon have the perfect pitch at the University of Hertfordshire's new de Havilland campus.

The state-of-the-art £400,000 artificial pitch, similar to the one used by the French national side at its training ground just outside Paris, will be a huge benefit to the national game, he said.

Mr Wilson said: "One of the biggest benefits is that you will be able to play all the year round. The great joy about this surface, compared to natural grass, is the ability it gives players to pass the ball on a consistently good surface no matter how often it is used.

"Its potential use by professional clubs and the community is massive."

Mr Wilson, a governor of the university, saw the full size pitch begin to take shape when he visited the de Havilland site last week.

The pitch, which also matches the one at the UEFA headquarters in Geneva, will be available to clubs and individuals from school age to adults. It is part of the new £15 million sports complex a the new campus which is due to be completed in August next year.

July 8, 2002 16:00