Artificial pitch is Taylor-made for Rangers

CARRICK Rangers were this week boosted by news that they have been granted £245,000 in funding to install a state-of-the-art third-generation (3G) artificial surface at their Taylor’s Avenue home, writes John Gillespie.
By The Newsroom
Published 30th Mar 2011, 12:23 BST

Sports Minister Nelson McCausland, from the Department for Culture Arts and Leisure, visited the ground on Wednesday to announce details of the project while Rangers chairman David Hilditch confirmed that work on the new pitch is expected to begin in June.

That means the club’s league tie against Ballinamallard United, scheduled for Friday, May 6 will be the last competitive game played on grass at the ground.

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The new 3G pitch could coincide with the side’s likely return to top-flight football.

Officials and fans say it is good news for a team which is setting the pace at the top of Championship One and has an Intermedaite Cup final to look forward to in May.

According to Carrick’s website, an estimated 300 to 500 young people participate in coaching sessions or youth football at the stadium at peak periods. And, as chairman Hilditch was keen to point out, the new facility will be open for use by the entire community.

“It means a lot, not only to the club, but also to the local community because they have backed the project,” Hilditch told the Times.

For the latest Carrick Rangers match reports and manager Stephen Small’s views on Saturday’s crunch league clash with Limavady United see this week’s edition of the Carrick Times

Related topics:Carrick Rangers