FOOTBALL legend Julian Dicks has hailed the transformation at Bowers & Pitsea’s Len Salmon Stadium home as ‘fantastic’.

Dicks, who made more than 250 appearances for West Ham United over two spells, was the guest of honour as Rob Small’s Isthmian North side returned to their home for the first time this season.

A David Knight hat-trick and a late header from the club’s all-time leading goalscorer Lewis Manor allowed Bowers to clinch a 4-0 win over high-flying Felixstowe & Walton United.

And Dicks admitted he was impressed with the work done to improve the stadium.

Dicks said: “When I walked in, I thought it looked fantastic.

“The new astroturf has been fitted and a lot of clubs are going that way now because they can generate revenue when they’re not playing.

“For me, it’s a win-win situation.”

Close to £500,000 has been spent on installing a new artificial surface, while the perimeter around the pitch has also been altered.

And although Dicks admitted he is not a fan of astroturf pitches, he understands why numerous clubs are installing them.

Dicks added: “I don’t like astroturf pitches.

“But I understand why clubs install them at this level because if you have grass, it takes a lot of upkeep.

“There is upkeep with astroturf as well but not so much, so it’s cheaper in the long run.”

Fans queued up to have photographs with the former left-back, who also counts Liverpool among his ex-clubs.

Dicks hung up his boots following a short spell with Canvey Island, before going onto manage Wivenhoe Town, Grays Athletic and Sealand.

A season in charge of West Ham United Ladies followed before taking over as first team coach of the Hammers following the appointment of close friend Slaven Bilic as manager.

Dicks, who won West Ham’s Hammer of the Year award four times during his career and was nicknamed the Terminator, left the London Stadium after Bilic was sacked in November 2017.

While Dicks has not returned to management, he was pleased to see so many of Bowers’ up-and-coming youngsters at the Len Salmon Stadium’s reopening.

Bowers’ youth teams have grown in recent times and Dicks was full of praise for the work being done at the Isthmian North club.

The 50-year-old, who started his career at Birmingham City despite being born in Bristol, confirmed: “The kids are the future of football.

“Without them, there is no football.

“The under-10s, 11s, 12s and 13s could be playing at this level and for Bowers & Pitsea in the future.”