Replace Our Pitch - Secure Our Future

Aim

The artificial playing surface in our stadium has reached the point where it requires a full-pitch replacement.

Who are we?

For generations, football has been at the heart of life in Sudbury.

AFC Sudbury is more than a football club. We are a community, a place where children take their first steps into sport, where friendships are formed, where volunteers give countless hours to support others and where local people come together through a shared passion for community and the beautiful game.

Whilst we're a relatively new club in our form today (1999), our roots stretch back more than 140 years, after the merger of Sudbury Town and Sudbury Wanderers. Today, AFC Sudbury provides opportunities for hundreds of players, coaches, volunteers and supporters across our men's, women's, academy and youth programmes and pathways.

Our facilities are used not only by AFC Sudbury teams, but also by schools, community groups and local organisations or private individuals throughout Sudbury and a much wider surrounding area.  We are proud to be a club that exists for the benefit of our community. Over 1,200 benefit weekly from the playing surface including 3 women's teams and 6 girls' teams, a Comet's disability football team, walking football, 30+ other affiliated teams of our own and we need it for our academy of 145 students, of which c.40% are girls. 

Today, we face a major challenge.

Why we need your help...

The artificial playing surface in our stadium has reached the point where it requires replacement. This happens over time and we credit our fantastic grounds team made up of a few loyal volunteers who have diligently maintained the surface over the last 11 years through all weathers in all seasons.

To continue providing a safe, high-quality facility for players of all ages and abilities we must undertake a full-pitch surface replacement project. This essential work includes:

1. Removal and disposal of the existing surface

2. Inspection and repair of the pitch base where required

3. Installation of a brand new playing carpet

4. New performance infill

5. Testing and certification back to FIFA standards before reopening.

The project is expected to take between six and eight weeks to complete with a total estimated cost of £250,000. Unfortunately, due to it being a refurbishment of an existing facility, we are not eligible to apply for large council grants towards the project. Others grants are in progress or will be applied for but many require match funding and this will also aid those applications. 

Without this fundraise, the quality, safety and long-term sustainability of one of Suffolk's most important community football facilities will be at risk.

Our Stretch Goal

Our primary fundraising target is £250,000 to complete the pitch replacement project from various sources. We're aware this crowdfund target may not be met, but it helps us in other ways too, such as match funding for our grant applications.

Should we exceed this target, additional funds will be invested into improvements to the surrounding safety barriers and wider stadium infrastructure such as earmarking funds for the car park, and creating a sinking fund for the next time replacement or repairs are needed, helping us create an even better experience for players, supporters and visitors, both current and future.

We have obtained multiple quotes and are ready to go; we just need the funding. The project completion if funding is secured, is for the new pitch to be laid during June/July 2027.

A facility for everyone

Football facilities are about far more than football today.

Every donation helps protect these opportunities for future generations.

This campaign is not simply about replacing a playing surface. It is about protecting an asset for the community. It is about preserving something that generations of people in Sudbury have helped to build.

How you can play your part

There are four simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a reality.

1. Make a pledge. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success!

2. Spread the word. Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.

3. Offer rewards. Get involved if you are a local business by donating things we can offer to our supporters. We will give you a shout out!

4. Fundraise for us. If you want to run your own fundraiser – maybe a sponsored activity or similar – use the 'contact project' button at the top of our page to let us know. Setting up your own page only takes a few minutes and you won’t need any bank details. Just a fun idea!

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 15th December 2026 at 3:51pm