LEGENDARY goalkeeper Peter Shilton gave Royston s new all-weather pitch the thumbs up at the official opening this week. Former Derby keeper Mr Shilton, who holds a record 125 England caps, cut the ribbon on the new facility at Meridian School, then took

LEGENDARY goalkeeper Peter Shilton gave Royston's new all-weather pitch the thumbs up at the official opening this week.

Former Derby keeper Mr Shilton, who holds a record 125 England caps, cut the ribbon on the new facility at Meridian School, then took a turn between the sticks to test out the artificial pitch.

Other dignitaries, including Royston MP Oliver Heald, and Royston Town FC president Alan Barlow, were present at the opening of the facility, which will be used by a host of Royston's sporting clubs, as well as pupils at the school.

Mr Heald said: "The facilities in Royston have been transformed in recent years and our sport is now well catered for.

"Peter Shilton spoke of the huge improvement in the quality of all weather surfaces, since the early days when as a goalie he had to dress up with Michelin Man-style padding in the early days.

"It was so kind of Peter to keep the fixture on the same day as Sir Bobby Robson's Memorial at Durham Cathedral," he added.

The pitch cost nearly �700,000 to build, with funding coming from a variety of sources, including the Johnson Matthey Sports and Social Club, and the Brian Racher trust.