FOOTBALL club officials have made a plea for help to save a half-million pound project to build new pitches.

Knaresborough Celtic junior football club has secured a £414,000 grant from the Football Foundation for the scheme to build pitches and changing facilities at Thistle Hill.

Club fundraising has gathered another £140,000, but there is still a shortfall of about £75,000, putting the whole project in doubt.

A spokesman for the club said: "We are very close to realising the dream of new playing facilities at Thistle Hill and we just need this final push for the shortfall in funding to allow us to get the project under way so that the facilities can be available for our players and club members at the earliest possible opportunity."

The project has won the backing of Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Phil Willis, who has called on Harrogate Borough Council to help support the club.

"Knaresborough is becoming the poor relation of Harrogate," he said.

"It would be a tragedy if the district threw away the opportunity of outside funding of over £550,000. We cannot criticise young people if we are not prepared to invest in them."

The borough council contributed £5,000 to the project four years ago. Council spokeswoman Lynne Mee said: "This in itself is unusual in that no other club has received direct support in terms of council cash contributions.

"I should also add that without officer support provided from this council's department of community services and in particular the sports development and project development teams, then the club wouldn't have got as far as it has."

Anyone who can help with fundraising can call club chairman Alex Degier, on 01423-869686.