IT WAS the end of an era at Wellington Association Football Club on Saturday, April 19, as the club’s floodlights were taken down for the final time.

For nearly 40 years, the four pylons on the far side of the Playing Field pitch have had to be removed at the end of each season to allow cricket to be played.

The lights have been in use since 1986 but the club are now installing new LED lights with four corner mounted pylons, which will be in place permanently.

They are part of a programme of improvements following the club’s decision not to move to a new ground at Longforth Farm because of spiralling costs. A new spectator stand, holding 100 people, has just been completed and helped Wellington meet their FA Step 5 grading, which is needed to play at their current level.T

The club are also planning to erect a new pitch surround and renew the footpath on the clubhouse side of the pitch.

A spokesperson said: “Thanks go to everyone who came along to help take down the lights for one last time.

“A special mention to R&A Commercials for their help, and over the years, to Mike Boyd and to Jane Brown for the very welcome coffee and bacon rolls!”

The club’s last senior match under lights was played earlier in the week when Wellington Reserves met Feniton and won 2-0 to move up to second in the Premier Division of the Devon and Exeter League.

Wellington’s scorers were Alfie Barratt and Ben Evett and the man of the match was Harry Chetfield who was congratulated by sponsors Phil and Lucas Bell of L&B Haulage.

The football club are set to hand over the ground to the cricket club whose first and second teams will be playing on the Playing Field throughout the summer.