Annual maintenance has already begun here at the Britannia Stadium as the club prepare for life in the Premier League.

Small trenches were dug into the pitch late last week where pipes have been installed for pop-up sprinklers to water the grass quickly and easily throughout next season (see right).

The trenches were then refilled before work on scarifying the pitch begun, with just under an inch of turf being taken off before sand is set to be layed.

The whole area will then be watered as new grass grows beds-in in time for pre-season.