Banbridge ready to pitch in for official opening

BANBRIDGE’S new pitch at Havelock Park will be officially opened this weekend with a series of games involving schools, juniors, seniors and veterans.

The problems surrounding the delay when the contractors went into administration are behind the club now, with the men and women ready to grace the new surface ahead of the new season.

The juniors open proceedings tomorrow evening with various age groups, followed by the men’s 2nd XI facing an ex-pats team.

Saturday morning sees the Banbridge Academy senior boys and girls squads take on Methody and Royal School Armagh respectively, followed by Bann’s junior women facing CI.

Then comes the Bann Masters against an Ulster/Irish Over-40s side when names from the past including McAnulty, McCandless, Bell, Allister, Tumilty and Carson take to the pitch.

Bann’s senior women will take on a Dublin side to be confirmed and the senior men follow against a representative XI.

The primary school section will get their chance, and the final game will see the Under-15 boys take on South Antrim.

Representatives from the Department for Communities and Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, who part-funded the project, will also be in attendance.

Tomorrow: Bann Juniors (6-8pm); Men’s 2nd XI v Ex-Pats (8.15pm).

Saturday: Academy Girls v Royal School Armagh (9am); Academy Boys v Methody (10.30am); Junior Women v CI (12pm); Bann Masters v Ulster/Irish Select (1.15pm); Senior Women v TBC (2.45pm); Senior Men v Representative XI (4.15pm); Minis display (4.45pm); Second half of Men’s match (4.50pm); Under-15 Boys v South Antrim (5.45pm).