Portadown praise for Shamrock Park donations

Shamrock Park, the home of Portadown, returned to a role as a community focal point last weekend thanks to the generosity of the club’s football family and wider public.
Donations at Shamrock Park.Donations at Shamrock Park.
Donations at Shamrock Park.

The Coronavirus crisis has left a conclusion to the Irish League season under a cloud of uncertainty but the football ground’s gates were unlocked and thrown open last Friday and Saturday as the Portadown clubrooms served as a venue for donations to help those most in need within the area.

Portadown opted to team up with other groups in the region to co-ordinate a strategy offering support to the most vulnerable within the Portadown community.

Portadown FC, Portadown YMCA, Helping Hands Community and Outreach and Brownstown Residents’ Association collaborated to organise a public appeal for donations which will now be delivered across the area as care packages.

“The response was superb and we will now plan out a delivery process,” said Portadown’s Mark Beattie. “It was great to see some familiar faces walk back through the gates at Shamrock Park but it was not just about fans stepping forward, there were plenty of people keen to help who did not have any connection to the club as such but simply felt ready to support the community.

“Timing is important as, given the wonderful reaction from the public, there are numerous items ready to be sent to people in need.

“Over the coming weeks we expect more and more people to be in need of support so our goal is to maximise the benefits of the donations so far by helping as many as possible for as long as possible.

“Some people even got in touch with us suggesting names of those we can help, which is great, and we would encourage anyone to come forward and let us know if we can do something during what is such a difficult time.

“The Portadown YMCA remains open Monday to Friday as well and everyone is working together to provide the right support in whatever way we can.”

Contact Beattie on 07851207689 or via Portadown’s official social media accounts.

Related topics: