Latest technology lights up the Meadow

Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Belper Town have completed the installation of some of the best floodlighting in Non-League football.

Constructed at a cost of £76,000, the new floodlighting system, pictured, has doubled the existing lighting levels at Christchurch Meadow and was made possible after the First Division South Nailers secured a £35,000 grant from the Football Stadia Improvement Fund, supporters of the Football Foundation and the largest funder of Non-League football in the country.

The Nailers are now looking forward to saving money on their energy bills and cutting the club's carbon footprint following the installation of the new energy efficient system using the latest technology.

Belper's Company Secretary David Laughlin said: "We are indebted to the Football Foundation for their financial contribution and also to the Derbyshire County Football Association for their advice and wholehearted support for the project.

"Whilst there will be four new floodlight columns, instead of the previous eight, they will be twice as bright as their predecessors and will be similar in specification to those found at Football Conference stadia.

"The new lights will also guaranteed at the same level of brightness for the next 10 years while they will operate a more eco-friendly system which means the running costs are much lower and the amount of light going into neighbouring properties will also be a lot less."

Funded with £6m each year from the Premier League, the FSIF is the country’s largest provider of grants towards projects that help improve the comfort and safety of lower league grounds in both the professional and amateur game. Improvements range from new football stands and turnstiles to floodlighting and improved provision for disabled supporters.