The governing body of English football has backed a £400,000 scheme to create a state-of-the-art synthetic pitch in east Suffolk.

Framlingham Sports Club’s proposal to build a new playing surface made with the latest third generation (3G) materials has been made a “strategic priority” by the Suffolk Football Association (FA).

The club last week reported that difficulties in securing £50,000 from Sport England – another funding body – meant it was no longer likely to start work this summer, as initially planned.

However the FA’s regional facilities and investment manager Mark Liddiard has since given his firm backing to the proposals and suggested that the current funding setbacks could be easily overcome.

“Framlingham is in an ideal location, they are a well run sports club with a proven track record of providing a range of football activities,” he said.

“At a management and operational level, this project would be considered well worthwhile supporting.”