OXFORD City have announced plans to become the first Vanarama Conference North club to play on an artificial pitch, writes MARK EDWARDS and MATTHEW BRUCE.

The club hope to install a 2-star Fifarated 3G surface at their Marsh Lane ground ahead of the start of the 2015- 16 season.

City submitted a planning application on Tuesday and, providing there are no unforeseen problems, would put the new pitch in over the summer.

Artificial pitches were banned in English football in 1995 over issues with ball roll and bounce, as well as fears over long-term injuries, but will be allowed in the Conference from the start of next season.

“The project represents another fantastic opportunity to further improve the quality of the sporting infrastructure within Oxford, creating a worldclass facility that puts local football in the strongest possible position,” said a statement from the club.

Oxford City Council are liaising with Oxford City FC to ensure that, subject to planning permission, the project is delivered to the highest possible standards and that the potential benefit of the investment is maximised across the local community.”

In 2012, City opened a full-size 3G artificial surface as part of their £2.1m Community Arena – situated adjacent to the main playing area – with the cost of the pitch around £500,000.

But with no floodlights required this time – the existing ones will remain – the total will be significantly lower, although still a six-figure sum.

Colin Taylor, City’s volunteer managing director, was keen to stress all the funding for the project has been put in place by the club, with no financial input from either the council or the taxpayer.

“The club has done all the work and got together a package which would cover the costs,” he said.

“The council are not paying anything, which is a key point.”

Taylor added: “The planning application can take up to eight weeks, sometimes a bit longer, and the last game on the current pitch is in the first week of May.

“It leaves enough time to get it all done in time for the start of next season which is what we are aiming for, if everything goes to plan.”

Conference South clubs Eastbourne Borough, Sutton United and Maidenhead United have already announced plans to install artificial surfaces themselves, but City are the first Conference North side to express similar intentions.

As well as City’s first team, the pitch would be used by a wider audience, with up to 35 hours of community use permitted a week.