It has been a long held dream for Sidmouth Town AFC to be able to play at night under floodlights.

Sidmouth Herald: The first team gather under the lit up floodlights.The first team gather under the lit up floodlights. (Image: Archant)

Sidmouth Town AFC enjoyed a ‘historic’ evening as players took to the pitch for the first time under the club’s new floodlights.

The six towers have been a long held dream for the club’s committee as part of its ongoing work to develop the Manstone Lane facility.

Club president Stuart Hughes had the honours to switch on the lights for the ‘landmark’ occasion that saw the first team play Exeter University.

The Vikings took home three points, winning 3-1 in the Carlsberg South West Peninsular League.

Andy Argyle, chairman of the club, said: “The lights are another stage in the development of the club. We are really trying to raise our game both on and off the pitch.

“Our aim is to provide the town with a platform and a reputation for football development opportunities allied to excellent facilities.

“In running four competitive teams and drawing on local talent at youth and junior levels we set out to ensure that the club repays the support it receives from the community.’’.

With the addition of the lights, the football club is aiming to compete in higher cup competitions and host finals and matches as well as offer more fixtures for its senior and youth teams.

It will also ease pressure of the teams to pack in all their fixtures if games have to be postponed due to poor weather as they can now play later due to the lights.

Mr Argyle said: “It means we can put in midweek league fixtures. There is always at the end of the season two games just to get the fixtures done if the weather is pretty bad in the winter then we have several weekends that are full.

“Having the lights will help even our fixtures out over the course of eight to nine months of the season.”