Woodhouse Grove have opened their new all-weather facility as part of the school’s bicentennial celebrations.

The pitch, which is the first of its kind in the North of England, will be known as The Grainge in memory of former pupil Leslie Grainge, who played union for Otley in the 1930s before switching codes and representing Leeds, Hunslet, Bradford Northern and England.

A pupil there in the 1920s, Grainge played union for Yorkshire Public Schools while he was at the Apperley Bridge school and was capped at league as a Bradford Northern player by England against France in Paris in 1938.

He retired from rugby in 1940, having played 238 games and scored 95 tries.

Rhino-Turf’s Bryn Lee explained: “The Oneturf designed by us meets the requirements for rugby and football.

“The shock pad beneath the turf adds another layer of safety which also aids long-term performance.”

Grove’s director of sport Roger Howard said: “This fantastic facility, essentially driven through our new partnership with Bradford City, has already been put to good use and will prove a significant asset to the school and our players.”

The pitch was officially opened by Grainge’s daughter, Mary Webster, and was christened by 15 school teams who featured in the school’s annual under-13 rugby union sevens tournament.

School development manager Sam Cadman said: “The school is greatly honoured to call George Leslie Grainge an Old Grovian and are proud to name our new pitch in his honour.

“As a close friend of the school, we were also delighted that his daughter, Mary Webster, could be with us to open the pitch and dedicate it to her father’s memory.”

The Grainge will be a lasting legacy to the bicentenary year of 2012, the school’s state-of-the-art swimming pool having already been opened earlier in the academic year.