A historic day for a Suffolk non-league club is set to place them “firmly on the football map” with the official opening of their stadium following a £750,000 refurbishment.

Newmarket Town’s Ridgeons Stadium was reopened on Monday afternoon by former Premier League striker Micky Quinn.

The refurbished ground now has one of the country’s first cork-filled 3G artificial pitches, illuminated by new energy saving LED floodlights.

Newmarket Town Secretary Graham Edwards said the development, which was the culmination of almost ten years’ work, was the biggest project undertaken by the football club in their 139-year history.

Paying tribute to chairman John Olive and manager Kevin Grainger for their perseverance, he said: “We decided from the outset that we wanted to build the very best possible facility that we could afford.

“As a result of all our efforts and support of others we are today unveiling this magnificent new facility.

“By the end of this week the new and improved changing rooms behind the stand will be completed and fencing and a new car park entrance will be completed.

“Newmarket has been known throughout the world for the last 350 years as the centre of horse racing. We confidently believe that from today this development will also place Newmarket firmly on the football map.”

The revamp was supported by a £96,610 grant from The Football Stadia Improvement Fund along with money raised by the sale of the club’s old car park to be developed into housing.

The 3G pitch will enable all 30 youth and adult teams at the Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division club to train and play at their own ground for the first time.

One of the first matches to be played on the refurbished pitch will be a friendly between an Ipswich Town XI and Newmarket. The match will raise money to support Newmarket footballers Joey Abbs and Shaun Whiter. Both were injured in a suspected hit-and-run in Dullingham Road, with Mr Whiter having both of his legs amputated below the knee as a result.