Ashes to no longer be scattered at football pitch

Port Vale FC has said families would no longer be able to scatter or bury loved ones' ashes at its pitch once the new turf has been installed.

The Stoke-on-Trent club will be replacing its current playing surface at Vale Park with a hybrid turf, which is a mixture of natural and artificial grass, ahead of the 2026/27 season.

Bosses said it would help to improve the site's durability and performance, while "meeting the demands of modern football".

But they confirmed memorials – including scattering or burying ashes – would not be able to take place within the pitch area due to the material of the new surface.

A club spokesperson told the BBC the ashes would not break down or become part of the land but would remain as a layer of dust just underneath, making the surface "lumpy" or discoloured.

Burying ashes would also involve lifting the turf, causing damage and affecting the drainage, which would be costly to repair, the spokesperson added.

They said the club was looking at an "alternative and appropriate space" within the Vale Park footprint and would update supporters soon.

The new pitch is one of a number of projects under way at Port Vale, which include the £2.3m Vale Park Community Campus.

It will feature a community hub building, youth football pitches, a multi-use games area, padel courts and walking trails.

Plans have also been approved for the Bradeley Football Development Centre, which will become the home of the club's women and girls' football teams.

Construction is due to begin in June and the development will include a full-size 3G pitch and parking provision.

Matt Hancock, CEO at Port Vale, said bosses were continuing to invest significantly in the club's infrastructure to "build stronger foundations for the future".

He added: "From the installation of a new playing surface at Vale Park to the development of the community campus and our plans at Bradeley, these projects are designed to support both first-team performance and our wider role in the community."

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