Ardrossan Winton Rovers Archive
Bold Sporting Initiative to Transform Winton Park
A JUNIOR football club and a housing association are coming together in a bold initiative aimed at benefiting the whole community.
The move will to a new multi purpose facility for Ardrossan and help encourage a new generation to take up sport.
Ambitious Ardrossan Winton Rovers and Cunninghame Housing Association (CHA) plan to turn Winton Park into a state of the art complex. Nothing has been ruled out as both parties explore the full potential of the site in the heart of the town.
A technical feasibility study will be conducted over the next year to look at all the options for Winton Park, including:
A top notch sythetic pitch along the lines of the acclaimed surface at Hamilton Accies' New Douglas Park.
Floodlit artifical seven a side and five a side pitches.
A hall for sports such as badminton, bowls and tennis with changing facilities.
The future of Ardrossan Winton Rovers was secured when a committee including stalwarts Sam Morrison and Willie Kean recently took control of the club. The group set up Ardrossan Winton Community Sports Club, a company limited by guarantee, which means all profits will be ploughed back into the infrastructure and ended years of uncertainty.
But the latest development will aloow the dedicated men to take their club to a new level and benefit the community as well.
Committee chairman Mr Morrison said "We are extremely excited about this partnership with the CHA. We recognise that we need to forge new partnerships with experienced professionals and public agencies if we are to fulfil our ambitious plans to restore Winton Rovers to the top ranks of the Junior game in West Central Scotland."
"Their support will help us to build on the momentum we've established and is another example of goodwill towards the name of Ardrossan Winton Rovers within the local community."
Cunninghame Housing Association are equally enthused by the potential to turn Winton Park into a top class facility.
They were recognised at a national awards ceremony for their community work and their new forger links with the local Junior team continues that trend.
CHA's regeneration unit, which is jointly funded by the housing association and the Moffat Charitable Trust, has already contributed £9000 of seedcorn funding that will help develop the iniative.
Association Chief Executive Frank Sweeney said "We have been impressed by the enterprising and forward thinking approach of the Ardrossan Winton 2001 Committee. Their commitment to the redevelopment of the Winton Park site and their appreciation of the contribution it can make to the local community in Ardrossan struck a chord with members of our voluntary management committee."
"Our seedcorn funding contribution will assist the club with its ongoing plans to redevelop their facilities. We are committed to establishing a new development partnership with them to develop a business plan and funding package for a venture that will benefit both the club and the wider community in Ardrossan."
This article has been reproduced by kind permission the editor, Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald.