Crumlin Star to benefit from £3.4million Marrowbone Project

A spokesperson for Crumlin Star football club says that a £3.4million project earmarked for Marrowbone Park in North Belfast will be a “huge step forward” for the whole community.

Recently, news emerged that planning approval for the project was granted during a meeting of Belfast City Council’s Planning Committee on Tuesday, June 15.

The redevelopment project is set to totally transform the area with state-of-the-art changing facilities, floodlights, pitch resizing work and a community space just some of the plans earmarked for the exciting new project.

Sinn Féin councillor Nichola Bradley said she was “delighted” by the news hinting that the new facility will have a positive impact on the community.

“I’m delighted the £3.4m redevelopment of the Bone Hills has got planning approval,” the local councillor said on Facebook.

“It is fantastic and brings us one step closer to having local top-class sports and play facilities for the Bone and Ardoyne area.

“This project has been a long hard battle for all involved and we are finally seeing a bright light at the end of the tunnel.”

Crumlin Star will be mainstays of the new ground along with Amateur side Shamrock FC when Stage Two of the Marrowbone project is completed.

Work is due to get underway early next year and it is believed that renovations could take approximately 18 months to complete.

Crumlin Star Treasurer Liam McNeill says that the news has been a breath of fresh air for the local area.

“A lot of work has gone into this for a number of years and the aim was to get a home for Crumlin Star and Shamrock FC as well as a hub for the whole community.

“We are one of the top Intermediate clubs in the country, but we have never really had a home in Belfast and it’s something we’ve been after for many years, so it is nice to finally be able to get it all finalised.

“We played games at Marrowbone in the past but it wasn’t really fit for purpose and we had to end up playing our home games at The Cliff down in Larne which wasn’t ideal so the recent news has given the place a lift.

“We have a temporary arrangement with a local GAA club to play games at their ground, but it will be nice to get the second phase of the Marrowbone project completed as it will give us a better facility for the whole community.”

A new playground and event space is also set to be included as part of the scheme.