Just over two weeks after undergoing its annual summer makeover the Meadow Lane pitch is well on course to be in tip-top shape for the start of next season.

That is according to Stadium Manager Greg Smith, along with Head Groundsman Trevor Hutchinson, has been working hard preparing the pitch for the rigours of another League Two campaign.

Greg is delighted with the progress that has been made in such a short space of time but realises there is still plenty more hard work ahead.

Said Greg: "Things are looking very good and we are very happy with the progress that has been made since we started the project in mid-May.

"We always expected this week would be the one where the blades of grass would really push through.

"We're ahead of the game at the moment because we had an extra week compared to last year, so hopefully that helps us and looking at the pitch as it stands I believe that is the case.

"As Groundsmen we could always ask for it to be a bit warmer, but so far we're quite happy with how things are going."

The pitch incidentally was mowed for the first time earlier in the week by Trevor.