Groundsmen Bill Barker and Stuart Cunliffe took the opportunity of a fixture-less week in mid-March to successfully trial the new surface with a grass paint to transform Shawbridge’s pitch from the natural green to a synthetic blue (pictured).

Blues boss Simon Haworth said “As a Cardiff boy through and through I couldn’t be happier with the colour. And I think our coach Ian Johnson will love it, he's a massive fan of all things blue!”

Chairman Anne Barker praised the decision saying “I’m so glad we’re allowed to do this. We’ve been thinking of ways to celebrate the anniversary and this topped the ideas list. And because our kit is blue anyway, we don’t need to worry about the increased expense of washing the kit.”

The club have teamed up with Swedish grass paint specialists Elbillug Paints Ltd for the 2017/18 season who will provide the materials needed for the year.

Clitheroe are away this weekend, travelling to Goole for a 15:00 kick off.