Strangford pitch gets £75k drainage work

Strangford pitch gets £75k drainage work

12 December 2018

A £75,000 investment at the The Links playing fields in Strangford to upgrade a drainage system has been warmly welcomed.

Strangford Football Club members and local councillor Gareth Sharvin are delighted with the Newry, Mourne and Down Council cash injection.

The work was carried out over the past few months after concerns about the playing surface — which forced the soccer club to cancel a number of games — were raised with local authority officials.

Cllr Sharvin contacted the officials on behalf of the soccer club and revealed that as a result of a meeting with a number of the club’s representatives, the playing surface was not up to an acceptable standard to ensure it was available every week. 

“There was a number of occasions where the pitch was unplayable and this not only impacted on Strangford FC, but also on youth teams that also used the pitch,” he explained.

“The work completed by the council is greatly appreciated and to see the pitch completed with new goal nets and a catch net has transformed the area for Strangford FC and indeed local residents.”

Cllr Sharvin said there is still much more work to be done for the club to ensure it has a facility that meets the needs of its senior team and many youth teams that have established in the village.

Strangford FC chairman Russell Swail explained that officials sought an urgent meeting with Cllr Sharvin to highlight the club’s concerns and the impact the poor playing surface was having on not  just its season, but club development.

“Following a meeting with council officials at The Links, Cllr Sharvin secured agreement that the pitch would have drainage and surface works completed to improve its standard and availability,” he said.

“Cllr Sharvin also secured additional investment to provide new goal and catch nets that were needed due to safety concerns as the old catch nets  had become loose.”

The club chairman said Strangford FC “greatly appreciates Cllr Sharvin’s efforts which have provided it with a platform to build on and to continue to develop as a base for local players”.