Loch Park set for a summer renovation

GLENAFTON Athletic’s Loch Park is set for a summer renovation following a successful funding bid by the club.

The New Cumnock club has been successful in securing cash from the 9CC Group’s community fund.

The nine community councils in the area - collectively known as the ‘9CC Group’ - has secured a £628,000 first instalment fund from Brockwell Energy’s North Kyle windfarm site near Dalmellington.

The club has said that a pitch renovation will take place in the summer, once its remaining home league fixtures have been played.

Glenafton’s results in those matches will determine which league the new pitch will feature in next season, with Ryan Caddis’s men still battling to retain their place in the Premier Division.

Loch Park is also set to host West of Scotland Youth League finals in May, prior to the new pitch being laid.

A club spokesperson said: “We are delighted to confirm that we have been successful in our application to the 9CC’S Local Community Fund to secure funding for a summer pitch renovation to be carried out at Loch Park.

“Before the pitch renovation starts in June, Loch Park will continue to be the hub of the community as we host our six remaining home league games.

“The New Cumnock Community Sports Hub Easter Camp will also take place in the next few weeks, and our regular walking football sessions will continue.

“During the month of May, after the season concludes, we are also delighted Loch Park has been chosen to host some of the West of Scotland Youth

League finals, and we will announce these dates and fixtures in due course.

“And we will also look forward to hosting New Cumnock Primary’s sports day.

“Alongside this, we are also excited for the return of the Glenafton Youth Festival at the start of the June which we are sure will be well attended.”

Glens hosted Auchinleck Talbot at Loch Park on Tuesday night, after this issue of the Chronicle went to press.

Their remaining home games are against St Cadoc’s (Saturday, April 6), Beith (Tuesday, April 16), Darvel (Tuesday, April 23), Kirkintilloch Rob Roy (Saturday, May 4) and Cumnock (Saturday, May 11).

In addition, their run-in to the season includes away games against Troon on Saturday, April 20 and Beith on Saturday, April 27.