This town in Loire-Atlantique will soon have its synthetic football pitch

This was a recurring request from theUS Vital Frossay, she is about to be heard. A synthetic pitch should be built in the coming months in Frossay (Loire-Atlantique), in a department already well equipped in this area.

For a long time, the football club born from mergerin 2016, from US Saint-Viaud Football and USCF Frossay, requested this equipment from the two neighboring municipalities a few kilometers away.

“At least ten years,” recalls Estelle Francheteau, co-president of the club with Sébastien Olivier. “Our predecessor had already put together files.”

In both municipalities, the club has two grass pitches in Frossay and D’another in Saint-Viaud, as well as a stabilized. Not all of them are lit, which sometimes poses organizational problems during evening training, especially in winter.

Too dry in summer, too rainy in winter

But grassy areas suffer especially from the capricious weather which makes them impassable. This season, the cocktail of summer drought and winter weather forced the USVF to cancel numerous training sessions and have to postpone several championship matches.

Every year, we lose a few players, fortunately not the majority, who are tired of playing in these conditions.

Especially since the neighboring clubs – Saint-Pierre de Retz, Éclair de Chauvé, FC Estuaire (in Corsept), Entente sportif des Marais (in Rouans) – all have a synthetic pitch.

At the beginning of April 2024, the club stepped up to the plate by sending a letter to the two mayorsthen relayed to the families of the licensees.

While recognizing the legitimacy of their request, the mayor of Saint-Viaud, Roch Chéraud, replied that his commune was not able to finance such equipment.

“Our financial margins do not allow us to do this. Especially since other road works on old housing estates or protection of rainwater to avoid flooding will become urgent and will require very substantial sums. At the same time, we have aging equipment that will have to undergo upgrades or renovation work.”

“We put a little money aside”

On the other hand, the club received positive feedback from the mayor of Frossay, Sylvain Scherer.

In the coming weeks, the municipal council will be asked to decide on this rather costly matter. We generally talk about €800,000 to €1,000,000 to build a synthetic.

It will then remain to find the financial package, even if the mayor assures that he has the money.

A few years ago it was impossible, but today the situation is no longer the same. We put a little money aside.

The elected official admits to being tired of having to multiply municipal decrees to prohibit Sports practice on grass fields.

Via the Amateur football aid fund (Fafa) or even the National Sports Agency, subsidies are possible to reduce the municipal share. “But in all cases, it remains public money,” tempers the mayor.

A work group

A meeting was held on Friday May 3, 2024 in the village hall between representatives of the club, the town hall and the District to outline the project.

Where will the land be? A priori, he will come replace one of the two existing grass fields. “It’s the club that will decide,” slips Sylvain Scherer.

What type of terrain? While synthetics based on recycled tires will be banned from use from 2031, new technologies based cork and sand are now recommended.

While waiting for more information, on the ASVF side, we are delighted with this new perspective for the 260 licensees. “It’s a positive signal for the development of the club, so that our young people can flourish,” said Estelle Francheteau.

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