£1.1 million investment for supporters at Solitude

Sports Minister Nelson McCausland has opened a new stand and supporters’ facilities at Cliftonville Football Club.

The new facilities represent an investment of £1.1million in the club’s facilities in the last two years. This comes on top of almost £300,000 provided to the club in 2000 for the refurbishment of the West Stand.

The Minister opened the new facilities at Solitude prior to the friendly match between Cliftonville and Glasgow Celtic.

The Minister said: “If we are to attract larger numbers of spectators to Irish League games we need to provide safer and more attractive facilities at all our football grounds. This new stand will help Cliftonville attract new spectators, including families, and in addition should go a long way towards assisting the club comply with new legislation on sports grounds safety.

“I commend Cliftonville for its hard work and initiative in re-developing Solitude. It is very appropriate that the new facilities are being opened this year on Cliftonville’s 130th anniversary. I wish the club every success in this anniversary year and for the future.”

Notes to Editors :

The investment in Cliftonville includes refurbishment of the west terrace to provide covered seating for 880 spectators in 2000-2001, and the more recent construction of a new 1,650 seat stand including crowd control point, CCTV and PA system and new toilets and turnstiles. Also as part of the latest investment, which was administered by SportNI, are new changing rooms and corresponding facilities under the new stand.

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