Mourneview redevelopment work begins with old terracing

THE redevelopment of Mourneview Park has finally begun with the demolishing of the Hospital End terracing.

Seen as the club’s only link to the past, the terracing is now gone as part of the undergoing ‘Soccer Strategy’ programme which will also see, as chairman, Adrian Teer tells, the opening up of the away entrance at the ground.

“The terracing at the hospital end has been cleared as part of the ‘’Soccer Strategy’ scheme,” he began.

“If money does kick in during the next financial year, beginning in April, we’re hoping that we can get the go-ahead, under the ‘Stadia Safety’ programme, to put a modest grandstand at the hospital end of the ground. It will all be dependent on DCAL releasing funding.

“There is money available at the minute to carry out the demolishing of the hospital end terracing along with two thirds of the social club in order to open up the entrance at that end of the ground. That will all be taking place within the next days and weeks and must be completed within this financial year, by March 31.”

The Crescent End was also closed off for Saturday’s Irish Cup victory over Harland and Wolff Welders and, as Teer explained, this is to provide the necessary wheelchair access to the stand.

“As part of this ‘Stadia Safety’ programme, we are having to put in disabled viewing facilities at the back of Crescent End and we’re doing that at the minute,” said the club chairman.

“That’s all that will be happening in that stand during this phase of the development but when the work clicks in next year, that is when the re-profiling of both the Crescent End and the Glenfield Road Stand will take place.”

Finally, work to the club’s new floodlighting system is also underway and is set to be completed by February 2 when Shamrock Rovers travel to take on the Blues in a friendly at Mourneview Park.

With the extensive work underway at Mourneview Park, Teer is also keen to ensure supporters that it won’t be to the detriment of the team’s on-field performance and is being heavily subsidised by the IFA.

“The new floodlighting system will also be going in this week which carries a 10 year guarantee and is being 95% funded by the Irish Football Association,” he said.

“There will be people saying we should be putting the money into the team but we have to take advantage of this grant aid when it’s available.

“The life span of the light bulbs we have is getting shorter because of their age and the cost of replacing them is rising. The 10 year maintenance guarantee is also huge as it effectively means that we’ll have peace of mind where the lights are concerned for the next decade.”