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Dungannon Utd Youth unveil plans for a new £500,000 sports facility

Wednesday, 18 January 2012

DUNGANNON United Youth are currently in the process of putting together an ambitious development plan that could lead to the establishment of a new community sports facility in the town.
Club director, Joe McAree, has revealed that the Club are again working on plans to replace the grass pitch at the Lough View Sports Centre in Dungannon with a new state-of-the-art 4G Synthetic grass pitch complete with ball stopping fencing and inner spectator area that would offer a family safe environment for clubs and organisations.
“The scheme would cost in the region of £500,000 and apart from those involved in the provision of the new pitch and associated facilities would lead to the creation of a number of jobs," said Joe. "We are currently examining a number of avenues in relation to the possibly of receiving a Government grant towards the new provision."
Dungannon United Youth had originally looked at the possibility of establishing a new pitch at the Lough View Sports Centre in the early part of last year and were actually turned down for a Sports NI grant to take the scheme forward during the summer.
“We were very disappointed with that decision," said Joe. "But we haven't given up on that hope and are currently examining prospects for taking the scheme forward."
It is estimated that more than £1million has been spent in developing the Dungannon United Youth facilities over the last eight years.
There are a total of 13 teams at Dungannon United Youth with seven of those teams playing in the Mid-Ulster League and the remaining six teams competing in the National League.
“More than 300 people, both adults and children, use these facilities on a weekly basis, but we are of the opinion that the creation of a new 4G Synthetic grass pitch here at Lough View has the potential to serve much greater numbers than this.
“Our intentions would be to open up the facility to other teams and clubs in the area."
Joe McAree sees the the ambitious development plan for new pitch facilities as the next stage of the natural progression of Dungannon United Youth.
“As an organisation we have achieved a lot since we came into being and that has been largely due to the great help and support we have received from volunteers who give freely of their time.
“We have a network of 30 plus people who make it all happen and as an organisation we certainly have no intentions of standing still."
Joe McAree believes that the creation of the new facilities would be welcomed by both junior and senior sports clubs in the area.

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