Sigersons launch fundraiser to support pitch fencing and walkway upgrade

A GAA club in Strabane has launched a fundraiser to help improve its facilities.

Strabane Sigersons is hoping to install a secure fence around its training pitch in Ballycolman Estate with a walkway to increase the current stretch to 1.31km, and has launched a Crowdfunder campaign to help realise its ambitions.

The club's fundraising target is £50,000. If it raises 25 per cent of the target (£12,500), Sport NI will contribute 75 per cent (£37,500) through the Olympic Legacy Fund.

The project has a total cost of £67,278.

The new perimeter fencing with one vehicle gate and four single gates will cost £37,902, with an additional £29,376 for the concrete walkway around the perimeter of the fence.

"Every bit of money raised will go directly to installation of perimeter fencing and the extension of our walkway," a club spokesperson said.

"This will in turn massively improve our facilities so that more people in the community of Strabane can enjoy a safe inclusive facility for sport and recreation."

At the time of going to press yesterday (Tuesday), £5,140 had been raised.

Giving further details of the planned project, the spokesperson continued: "We are fundraising to develop our second pitch.

"The pitch was built in 2007 with floodlights, however due to funds and priorities within the club we never got to complete the project of erecting a perimeter fence with a walkway to allow games to be played on the pitch safely.

"Our grounds are used every single day by walkers and runners as well as our club teams. When teams are training many parents stay and walk around the facility.

"The club is a safe place for people to come and walk as there are always people about. However, we would like to extend the current walkway into our second pitch.

"This would mean fencing the pitch for safety and installing a footpath around the perimeter to meet our existing walkway and take the overall footpath around the club to 1.31km.

"Additional benefits of the security fencing and walkway would mean that we can host competitive games on this pitch right throughout the winter period.

"We already offer our facility out to local schools for primary school blitzes, secondary school games and to other clubs in the area if they need to avail of floodlighting for training. The facility is also used by Strabane Shamrocks Hurling club weekly.

"The walkway would be a huge boost for not just the club but the local community, it would enable walking club initiatives but most importantly the facility is a safe space away from dangerous roads for walkers with prams and young children.

"We would hope to futureproof the walkway for lighting right around the facility to allow it to be used every evening of the year."

In recent months the club has been working directly with Derry City and Strabane District Council on the proposed Strabane to Sion Greenway.

The spokesperson continued: "Strabane Sigersons have had positive discussions with council and the proposed route will be going directly along the River Mourne through our facilities.

"We would hope that this proposal to extend our walkway would link in with councils plans and could further extend the high-quality active travel infrastructure in the area.

"The walkway proposed would be fully accessible for walkers, wheelchair users and others."

For further details of the club's plans and to donate, visit:

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/

strabane-sigersons---fencing-and-walkway-

upgrade

For anyone who is struggling to donate via the link, they can leave their donation into to Sigersons Social Club.