Crumlin United is first club to benefit from new building support fund

CRUMLIN United is the first club to be supported through the MacBlair Building Support Fund, in partnership with the Irish Football Association.

Crumlin United will receive building materials through the fund that will help them enhance their Mill Road facilities.

One of Northern Ireland’s leading builders’ merchants, MacBlair is the official builders’ merchant partner of the Irish Football Association.

The Building Support Fund, as part of MacBlair’s partnership with the association, directly supports clubs through the provision of building materials for projects such as upgrading clubhouses, enhancing pitches or improving facilities. Up to £120,000 worth of materials will be awarded to clubs over the next three years.

MacBlair and the Irish Football Association have also set up the Club Support Fund.

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.

Crumlin United FC is the first club to be supported through the MacBlair Building Support Fund.

The County Antrim club, which participates in the Northern Amateur League, applied for funding to enhance existing facilities by adding two toilets to changing rooms.

The materials, including toilets and sinks, will be supplied by MacBlair Antrim.

The MacBlair and Irish FA judging panel were impressed by the club’s application, which underlined its ambition to continue to grow its over 400-strong membership and participate in increasingly higher levels of competition.

Crumlin United FC representatives by Julie Carson, MacBlair Marketing Manager, Chris Elliot, branch manager of MacBlair Antrim, and Stephen Garrett, Senior Commercial Manager at the Irish Football Association..

Crumlin United FC Chairman Tom McPeake said: “We’re delighted to be the first club to benefit from the MacBlair Building Support Fund. As a club we need to continue to develop our facilities in line with our ambition to continue to welcome new members, play an important role in the local community and compete at the highest levels possible.

“These building materials from MacBlair help us improve the comfort and safety of our members.”

Julie Carson, MacBlair Marketing, said: “I am delighted to announce Crumlin United FC as the first recipient of support from the MacBlair Building Support Fund.

“ It was obvious from the club’s application that it’s a well-run club that plays a major role in the local community and has a clear vision of how it wants to continue to improve both on and off the field.

“From our conversations with the club we’re confident it will benefit greatly from the building materials.

“We encourage other clubs across Northern Ireland to follow Crumlin United FC’s lead and apply for support through the MacBlair Building Support Fund.”

Stephen Garrett, Senior Commercial Manager of the Irish Football Association said: “Congratulations to Crumlin United FC, very deserving first recipients of funding from the MacBlair Building Support 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 on behalf of their club for building materials from the £120,000 fund.

Applications close on the last day of each quarter, with the next deadline being the 31st December.

At the weekend, United exited the Border Regiment Cup in a 2-1 defeat by holders Comber Rec in this 3rd round tie at Park Way.

United had been unbeaten in their last three games, but it was the Premier Division side who broke the stalemate on 71 minutes; Christopher Murray doing the needful following a corner.

Crumlin cancelled that one out on 80 minutes thanks to a Matthew Donnelly penalty and the tie was looking set for extra time until Comber’s James Sofley snatched the winner a minute from time.

Next Saturday, it’s a McCombe’s Coach Travel Intermediate Cup derby against Chimney Corner at Tom McPeake Park; kick off 1.30pm

And the seconds crashed out of the FonaCAB Craig Stanfield Junior Cup, beaten 5-1 at Tom McPeake Park by Division 2c side Clonard.

The visitors opened the scoring on 11 minutes through David McGaharan, with Barry Moreland tightening their grip on 25 minutes. McGaharan inflicted more damage with his second and Clonard’s third on 34 minutes.

The tie was surely done and dusted when Ryan Kelly made it four on the hour, and Crumlin’s cause wasn’t helped when Niall McShane saw a second yellow turn to red just two minutes later. Clonard had added a fifth by the time substitute Christopher McGarry nabbed a consolation for Crumlin four minutes from time.

Next Saturday, the Seconds start their league campaign in Division 3a when they travel to Drome Park to meet Ards Rangers Seconds.