ROY HODGSON has called on more local authorities to provide their community with an artificial football pitch, believing them to be the future of non-league football.

The former England manager officially opened the Arbour Park Community Sports Stadium on Wednesday and praised Slough Borough Council for their efforts in producing the multi-million pound facility.

He believes Arbour Park will be an enormous benefit to the local community and Slough Town, and insists The Rebels will now be the envy of many non-league clubs.

Hodgson told the Observer: "I’m really impressed with it, and the fact that Slough councillors have spent so much money in producing this type of facility for the football team and community.

“It’s a very impressive looking stadium and I’m certain it will be the envy of many non-league clubs, and what would be nice is if more of this type of stadia and pitch were produced.

VIDEO: Roy Hodgson talks with Slough Observer at the official opening of the Arbour Park Community Sports Stadium.

“It might not be possible for every community to spend so much money and do such a fantastic job as this one, with a big stand and sports hall across the road.

"But, it should be a possibility for councillors to provide artificial pitches of this quality for their teams and communities. I hope it will a trend that gets carried on and out in many more towns and cities throughout the country.”

He continued: “Artificial pitches are already a part of the future, there’s no doubt about that. At the moment we’ve not got to the stage that Premier League matches are played on 3G, although of course they have been in the past.

“But, I don’t think in any way that it should detract from the fact that it’s definitely the future of teams below professional football.”

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