Meadowvale plans update

Meadowvale plans update

15 February 2023

DRUMANESS Mills have released exciting news regarding upscaling plans for their Meadowvale venue.

Aptly named Project Meadowvale, the club recently secured £30,000 from the IFA’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Grassroots Facilities Investment Fund, which aims to allow local grassroots football clubs within the country to improve and refurbish facilities helping to create a better grassroots football infrastructure foundation.

In total, Project Meadowvale will require £50,000 worth of funding with the Mills raising the remaining £20,000 through the club’s development fund.

The money will expand the Meadowvale to include new pitch side and boundary fencing, spectator facilities including disability access, a 3G training pitch, a new clubhouse, changing rooms, floodlights and a public gym.

These additions to the club are crucial according to senior team manager Mark Kerr.

“It’s absolutely vital,” he said. 

“In comparison to some clubs we have fantastic facilities, but, it is easy to forget our facilities are 20 years-old.

“We need to move with the times and this is something that will benefit the local community as well – it is done with more than just the club in mind.”

The ball is well and truly rolling as the club have gratefully confirmed that Linton Fencing & Sportsgrounds Ltd have been successful in tendering for the work that will see the current pitch boundary wall replaced with a new fence, which will comply with the IFA criteria.

The club have also extended their thanks to the support shown from Teamfeepay and architect Paul Durnein, who will be contributing to getting the final boxes ticked.

In total, the project is estimated to take ten days to complete with work set to begin after the Bobby Dalzell Cup final concludes – which is scheduled for Friday, March 17 – with the end of March hoping to be the time of completion.

“We are in the process of funding the other £20,000 through the development fund,” said Mark.

“We previously held fundraising efforts before Christmas and continue to do so with the club’s 1929 monthly draw.

“It is also important to highlight that we have no plans to close the current social club at the grounds, we are only hoping to expand.”

With the installation of all these additions, Drumaness Mills have big plans for the future.

“We want to get more of the community involved in the club,” said Mark. 

“That means more girls signing up to form teams and get involved as well as creating an over-35s team and also having the facilities available to host bigger finals in the future.

“We could potentially have the likes of the national team using the facilities for future training camps, the possibilities are endless.”