New Oval will benefit entire league: Robinson
East Belfast MP excited by plans and calls for funding to be released
EAST Belfast MP Gavin Robinson says a redeveloped Oval stadium would be a big result for Irish League football and he’s reiterated calls for the sub regional stadia programme to be implemented.
Glentoran owner Ali Pour and the NI Executive are expected to join forces to fund the long-awaited redevelopment of the club’s stadium in a plan that could cost up to £10m.
A planning application has been submitted by the Glens to Belfast City Council outlining the vision for the future. It states that the club plan to demolish the “existing spectator stand to be replaced with two new all-seater stands totalling 4,000 capacity”. It adds there will be a “reconfiguration of existing standing terracing at goal ends providing 2,000 person capacity.”
There will also be additional car parking, improved circulation routes within the site and new turnstiles, with the Oval pitch set to become an artificial 3G surface.
The £10m for The Oval was part of a £36.2m government package dating back to 2015. In an interview with the Belfast Telegraph last year, Sports Minister Deirdre Hargey said there was no guarantee the finance would go to the original designated areas, insisting that she wanted to make sure “it is going to the right places”.
Last month, DUP MP Robinson called on the Sinn Fein Minister to engage with Glentoran about the issue and to treat the matter with “urgency”.
After seeing pictures of how the new Oval would look, Mr Robinson believes it could be a game changer for the Glens and Irish League football.
“I’m delighted to see Glentoran publish their plans and outline their vision for the future of The Oval,” he said. “The Executive agreed their sub regional stadia fund almost six years ago and the Strand One commitment of £10m for the redevelopment of The Oval was a crucial pillar of that scheme.
“Knowing the importance of Glentoran to east Belfast, and indeed the Irish League more generally, I trust the Executive will seize the opportunity to advance such a strategic investment in local football.
“A successful Glentoran on and off the pitch supports the viability of the league. They still have one of the largest travelling supporter base.
“£36.2m was the previous government package but that needs to be increased in light of the passing five years, with increased building costs.”
Glentoran’s desire to either redevelop The Oval or find a new home in east Belfast has been a long-time objective, but it is understood owner Pour and his consortium that took over the club, and included manager Mick Mcdermott and coach Paul Millar, are determined to make it happen this time.
To ensure their ambitious plans are passed by the Council, Glentoran will have to undergo a consultation process where they will be expected to speak with householders, businesses and Churches in the neighbouring area, the George Best City Airport which is close by, Translink due to the railway track being nearby, the Department for Infrastructure, other relevant government departments and bodies as
well as their own supporters too.
The Glens, meanwhile, have announced that their Youth Academy have created a link with Robbie Fowler’s Football Academy, which will begin in August.
The new partnership will see the two Academies work closely together to further the development of players in Northern Ireland at Ashfield Boys’ High School, where Glentoran’s Academy is based.
The link will see Glentoran manager Mcdermott, who is a qualified teacher and Uefa Pro Licence holder, lead regular coaching sessions alongside the club’s professional players.
They will also help mentor and assist the young players and students, in conjunction with the school’s PE staff, and deliver coaching and festival days for east Belfast Primary schools.
“Since Ali Pour took over at Glentoran, we have set about trying to re-establish the club’s connections with the local and wider community,” said Mcdermott.
“We are all in agreement that it is extremely important for us not just to be a club based in the community but, more notably, a club determined to work with, and for, the local community.
“With this in mind, our fulltime Youth Football Academy is one example of how we want to work as a club. The Academy’s programmes are designed not just to help young footballers to develop and improve as players, but also to provide them with an academic pathway to Further and Higher Education and the world of work.”
Liverpool legend Fowler, who scored 183 goals in 369 games for the club, is excited to create this link and is hopeful of getting over to see the work.
“I am proud that my Academy has partnered with a fantastic club in Glentoran FC. We will put every effort into making this programme a huge success and a national beacon of excellence as we have in England,” said Fowler.
“The staff team at Glentoran, and Ashfield Boys’ High School, are excellent and together we will be second to none. I am really looking forward to meeting all of the Academy students and staff in the very near future.”