WORK is progressing on a major upgrade to the back pitch at Falls Park, providing a significant boost for Newhill FC and the wider West Belfast community.
The £300,000 project will see the existing facilities upgraded, including new spectator fencing, catch nets, home and away dugouts, changing facilities and hard-standing pathways for spectators.
The improvements will support Newhill FC’s continued growth and ambition to reach intermediate status, while providing better facilities for players, coaches, families and supporters.
The upgraded pitch and surrounding facilities will help meet those demands and give the club a stronger base as it continues to develop its youth and senior sections. The improvements will also make match days more accessible and enjoyable for families and supporters, creating a better overall environment around the pitch.
For Newhill FC, the improvements will provide the infrastructure needed to match the ambition already being shown on the pitch. Reaching intermediate status would represent another important milestone for the club, and the upgraded facilities will help put it in a stronger position to continue that progression.
West Belfast MLA Aisling Reilly said the work was a major investment in the future of the club and local young people.
“It is brilliant to see the work now progressing at pace on the back pitch at Falls Park," she said.
"This is something we have been working on for some time, so seeing the investment being delivered on the ground is a really positive development.
“Newhill FC does fantastic work with our young people and has grown into a hugely important part of the community. These improvements will give the club the facilities it needs to continue developing and to take that next step towards intermediate status.
“This is about more than football. It is about giving our young people access to safe, quality facilities in their own community, supporting their development and giving them somewhere to belong.
“I want to commend everyone at Newhill for the work they continue to do, and I also want to recognise councillors Micheal Donnelly and Ronan McLaughlin for their work in helping drive this project forward.
“We have worked hard to get this to where it is today, and it is great to see that delivery now happening. This will be a fantastic facility for Newhill, a real asset for Falls Park and a brilliant investment in the future of our young people.
"The development represents an important step forward for a club that continues to grow its presence across the local community. Newhill provides opportunities for young people to get involved in football from an early age, develop their skills and be part of a local team, with the club’s continued growth placing greater demands on its facilities."
