Builder hands Cliff site to management team

On Friday, the contractor left the site, which comprises Larne's first synthetic pitch and ancillary facilities which include state-of-the-art changing areas for both able-bodied and disabled people, treatment rooms, a conference room and a sports hall.

Contractor Tal officially handed over the project to The Cliff’s management committee – comprised of Seacourt Community Council, the Larne Youth football academy, councillors and local business people – which will run the venture described by the man appointed as sporting development officer as !unique in Ireland”.

Jeremy Harper, 24, is now in a position to roll out a five-year programme of activities which, he says, will be aimed at people of all ages and abilities and from all backgrounds.

And Seacourt Community Council chairman Bertie Shaw said he is “delighted” that after a number of setbacks, The Cliff will soon be up and running.

“There are still a few bits and pieces to be done, but the contractor has officially left the site and handed it over,” he said. “We’re delighted because it means that we can start to get things moving. We have a lot of equipment to move in, a new telephone system has to be installed and a computer system has to be set up to monitor use of the facilities.

“We're also waiting for pitch furniture to be installed like goalposts and dug-outs, but the pitch is already in use: the IFA is running a B-licence coaching course for 42 people,” said Mr Shaw.

Work remains to be completed on the sports hall in what used to be the Seacourt community centre and has now been extended to accommodate The Cliff project.

The major funder, Sport NI, is to begin work on project branding.

Sport science graduate Jeremy is itching to get started. A keen rugby player until he was forced to quit through injury, the Bangor man is now a leading discus thrower, holding the Northern junior record and competing at club and international level. He was formerly development officer with Athletics NI and later with North Down Council.

Since he took up the post last month, Jeremy has been working towards establishing a website for the project and planning how best to utilise the excellent facilities at his disposal.

“The Cliff is an absolutely fantastic project and unique in Ireland,” he said.

“I believe that an interest in sport should be nurtured from a very young age and encouraged right through life, which is why I am planning a range of activities that will include everyone from mums and toddlers through to older people.”

With schemes ranging from football to athletics and rugby to Gaelic sports, Jeremy knows the project is too big for one person to handle alone and he hopes to train potential young coaches at The Cliff. Some members of the Seacourt youth club are already working towards coaching badges.

Younger people will also be encouraged to play in local football leagues and even midnight soccer competitions.”

And the programme will not be restricted to conventional activities. “We will look at anything that helps to keep younger people active,” said Jeremy, “which is why we are interested in maybe organising hip-hop classes and even street dancing.”

There may be aerobics classes and walking groups organised to keep over-50s physically active and people with disabilities will discover that The Cliff has been built to accommodate all their requirements.