MacBlair, in partnership with the Irish Football Association, has announced Portstewart FC is the latest club to be supported through the MacBlair Building Support Fund.
The North Coast club applied for funding to support an overhaul of the existing bathroom facilities at their Mullaghacall home which have remained largely untouched since the ground first opened in 1997.
The overhaul will include the installation of new plumbing and drainage systems, upgrading tiling and wall finishes and improving lighting and ventilation.
MacBlair, one of Northern Ireland’s leading builders’ merchants, will supply building materials from the club’s local MacBlair branch in Coleraine.
Portstewart FC’s Executive Chairman, Alan Dempsey, was presented with a commemorative plaque by Andy McCarron, branch manager of MacBlair Coleraine, and Stephen Garrett, Senior Commercial Manager at the Irish Football Association, at the Mullaghacall ground.
Patrick Carroll, MacBlair Strategic Development and Risk Director, said: “I am delighted to confirm Portstewart FC as a recipient of support from the MacBlair Building Support Fund.
“The club submitted a very thorough and impressive application in which it was clear that Mullaghacall plays a pivotal role beyond football as a multi-purpose community hub, and these improvements are aimed at bettering the experience of everyone who visits the ground.
“We encourage other clubs across Northern Ireland to follow Portstewart FC’s lead and apply for support through the MacBlair Building Support Fund.”
Alan Dempsey from Portstewart FC said it was “fantastic” to receive assistance from the MacBlair Fund.
He added: “Since opening in 1997 Mullaghacall has remained largely unchanged and we want to modernise our bathroom facilities and enhance the experience of supporters and the wider community. The building materials provided by MacBlair will help us do exactly that.”
Stephen Garrett, Senior Commercial Manager at the Irish Football Association, said: “Congratulations to Portstewart FC on receiving support through the Fund. The Irish FA is delighted to partner with MacBlair who have an evident passion for supporting grassroots football around the country.”
“We strongly encourage other clubs to send in their applications to be in with a chance of being the next to benefit from this brilliant initiative.”
Club members across Northern Ireland can visit the MacBlair or Irish Football Association websites to apply for building materials from the £120,000 fund. Applications close on the last day of each quarter.
MacBlair has also set up the Club Support Fund in partnership with the Irish FA. Through this initiative clubs can apply on the Irish FA website for an essential training equipment pack worth £1,000, including FIFA standard training balls, match balls, bibs, cones and kit bags. The latest recipients of these packs are: Ridgeway Rovers, Co Antrim; Ballymoney United Football, Social and Recreation Club, Co Antrim; Strabane Athletic FC, Co Tyrone.
Image: At the announcement of support for Portstewart FC were: (from left) Patrick Carroll, Strategic Development and Risk Director, MacBlair; Stephen Garrett, Senior Commercial Manager, Irish FA; Alan Dempsey, Executive Chairman, Portstewart FC, and Andy McCarron, Branch Manager, MacBlair Coleraine.
