Crossgar Youth League to move

Crossgar Youth League to move

1 May 2024

CROSSGAR Youth League is moving from the centre of the village after almost 50 years to a new home.

The hugely popular summer league is relocating to Kilmore playing fields from Lislea Drive after concerns about parking in this part of the village when games were being played were raised by residents.

Earlier this year, Youth League representatives met with Newry, Mourne and Down Council officials and informed that if the parking issue was not addressed, the cross-community football league would not be allowed to remain at its ancestral home.

Residents claim the parking issue is impacting on carers who visit elderly residents at this part of the village when the football league hosts games on Tuesday and Thursday evenings between 6pm and 9pm.

A public meeting to discuss the parking issue was held at the end of January in the Crossgar Community War Memorial Hall organised by the Youth League.

Confirmation that the Youth League has played its last games at Lislea Drive was revealed on Monday by Paul Teggart.

One of the league’s founder members, he said he had stepped down as chairman and wished his successor best wishes for the future.

“Newry, Mourne and Down Council has confirmed that the Youth League can no longer play its games at Lislea Drive due to complaints about parking in the area,” said Mr Teggart.

“A number of residents raised their concerns with Alliance politicians and while Youth League officials met with council representatives to discuss the issue and for matches to continue at what has been home for 45 years, the games will no longer be played there.”

Mr Teggart – who helped found the Youth League along with his father in 1969 and has been a community worker for almost 50 years – said the public meeting failed to resolve the issues that had been raised.

“We had hoped the council would let us stay but that was not possible,” he continued.

“I believe this fantastic cross-community youth league is the heart of Crossgar and I feel sorry for some elderly Lislea Drive residents who will no longer be able to watch games and interact with other people from the village.

Mr Teggart said a number of senior citizens attended games as it helped with their mental health and suggested they will be disappointed they can no longer look forward to getting out of the house for a few hours to enjoy the games and have a chat.

“I hope those who complained will realise what they have done,” he continued.

“The Youth League has had to relocate and following the public meeting in January, the Crossgar community clean-up team disbanded. In my opinion, people should always be encouraging, not complaining.”

Wishing the Youth League continued success in its new home, Mr Teggart said the village needed such organisations.

He added: “I’m sorry the league has been forced to move to Kilmore playing fields where there are little facilities. I wish new chairman Steven Irvine and his committee good luck. While it may difficult for them at the start, my advice is be patient.

“I’m sorry it has come to this and that people could not have been more accommodating and the concerns that were raised addressed and agreed way forward reached. 

For me, Lislea Drive is the perfect location for the popular summer league.”