A PREMIER League-winning footballer now based at a North-East club has helped to open a brand new all-weather sports pitch.
Fabio Da Silva, who plays for Middlesbrough FC, has opened the new artificial pitch at Teesside University, alongside vice-chancellor and chief executive Professor Paul Croney and chief operating officer Malcolm Page.
The pitch,outside the Olympia Building, is also set to be used for a national FA tournament in the coming weeks.
The new pitch includes a 60mm rubber crumb carpet surface with 'shockpad', similar to the surface used at the Middlesbrough Football Club training ground.
The Boro defender said: "The facilities here at the university are absolutely great.
"They will hopefully encourage more people in the area to take up sport."
Fabio joined Boro in 2016 after they achieved promotion and previously played for Manchester United, Queens Park Rangers and Cardiff City.
Professor Croney said: “We are delighted with the new facility and pleased to see it being used for a wide range of activities."
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