Club: give us a home

Eric Baxter Eric Baxter - 1629 • Published 20 May 2008 16:30

PORT Glasgow Juniors are stepping up their campaign to get their own ground after winning promotion on Saturday.

Inverclyde Council ended the team"s lease at Woodhall Park eight years ago to make way for industrial development.

But no company has moved in, and now the team and Port councillor David Wilson says the juniors should be allowed to return after beating Dunipace 3-0 to win promotion to the West of Scotland League.

Councillor Wilson, who also wants the team to get a civic reception, said: 'Port Glasgow Juniors have had to share Ravenscraig Stadium with Greenock Juniors for eight years, so it is all the more remarkable the Port boys have achieved promotion. I believe it is high time the council should facilitate, if not provide, a new site.'

It was originally hoped an information technology firm would move into Woodhall and create 500 jobs, but that failed to happen.

'The most recent move was to try to get Auld"s to transfer there from Brisbane Street, but they said the site was not suitable.

Port Juniors" secretary Stewart Sinclair said: 'All we get are promises, promises from the council.

'It started with the previous Labour council, moved on to the Liberal Democrat council and now we"re back with Labour again and we"re still getting nothing.'

Suggestions have included using the St Stephen"s and Port High school pitches, but Mr Sinclair said the Junior Football Association would not accept them because teams need their own enclosed pitch with turnstiles.

Parklea has been mooted also, but Mr Sinclair and Councillor Wilson believe it is too far away.

Mr Sinclair said: 'We have had countless meetings with the council, but there is no total commitment from them and no concrete offer.'

Councillor Wilson added: 'Port Juniors are helping to put the pride back into Port Glasgow.

'We must do everything to help them.' Councillor Jim Clocherty, convener of the Regeneration Committee, said: 'We would like to congratulate Port Glasgow Juniors on being promoted. That is a wonderful achievement for a very proud club.

'The council undertook an extensive review of its strategic leisure sites and the results of this were reported to the committee in January.

'Contained within that was the commitment to look at options for Port Glasgow Juniors at the Parklea facility.

'I am pleased to say work is ongoing with all stakeholders to progress this.

'This year, the council allocated £5m to revamp its leisure estate.'

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This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 20 May 08

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