'LACK OF RESPECT' FOR BALLYMENA PITCH
Damaged by stock car racing on Jan 1st

The manager of Irish Premiership team Ballymena United has hit out at the co-users of the Showgrounds where they play, for damaging the pitch via stock car racing on January 1st.

 

The BBC reported that David Jeffrey said he was saddened by the incident, which left parts of the playing surface cut up ahead of five home matches in January.

 

 

Ballymena Raceway, who share the venue with the football club, declined to comment when BBC Sport contacted them.

 

The annual Winter National Stock Car Championship meeting was held on New Year's Day at the Showgrounds, which is owned by the Mid and East Antrim Borough Council.

 

"They just didn't show any respect, they've just driven across the pitch, they really don't care," David Jeffrey told the BBC.

 

"I'm not anti stock car in any way, shape or form.

 

"The frustrating thing is that we have been trying to work closely and very hard with the council to make sure our pitch is in the best condition it can be.

 

"The council this year, particularly the groundsmen, have worked very hard to keep and to get the pitch in good order - they have worked their socks off."

 

The Mid and East Antrim Borough Council told the BBC that it was aware of the matter and that repairs were being carried out.

 

"Ballymena Showgrounds is a multi-use venue and Council works closely with all users to ensure it remains one of Northern Ireland's premier facilities," a spokesman for the Borough Council was quoted by the BBC.

 

"Extensive work is planned to be carried out on the pitch at Ballymena Showgrounds at the end of the current football season in order to improve drainage and the quality of the playing surface to ensure it meets European standards."

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