TAUNTON Vale Vale Hockey Club, in Gipsy Lane, is asking people to Pitch In to raise enough cash to replace its carpeted Astroturf playing surface.

The surface, used by the women’s team in the top flight National League, is wearing out.

Stuart Morling, chairman of the fundraising initiative Pitch In, said: “It seems crazy that new build projects attract funding with relative ease, but refurbishment projects attract virtually none.

“We’d like to attract a sponsor to the club who could benefit from the great publicity of hosting national league games and help us create a hockey arena the South-West can be proud of.”

The club is running a late summer ball on Saturday, September 15, to help the appeal – for tickets, email pitchinball@gmail.com