Paisley Park Sportsplex List of Directors and Annual Report ye 31 March 2023
PPS Directors
The Paisley Park Sportsplex Board allows for two representatives from each of the five constituent member sports clubs and a small number of Independent Directors.
Name Appointed Nominee of: Stephen Andrews 19 Aug 2018 Independent Drennan McBride 11 Jul 2013 Independent John Larmour 11 Jul 2013 Albert Foundry Football Club Robert Young 1 April 2022 Albert Foundry Football Club David Allen 19 Aug 2018 Albertville Harriers Victoria Jane Davis 19 Aug 2018 Albertville Harriers Nigel Carr 1 Nov 2020 Albert Foundry Bowling Club Resigned 1 Mar 2023 Thomas Pritchard 1 Nov 2020 Albert Foundry Bowling Club John Haveron 1 Nov 2020 Albert Foundry Junior Football Academy Iris McIlroy 11 Nov 2020 Albert Foundry Junior football Academy Emma Hussey 1 April 2022 Cairn Lodge Boxing Club Thomas Waite 1 April 2022 Cairn Lodge Boxing Club
Trustees Annual Report
The directors met monthly throughout the year, reporting back on the progress made by the individual clubs in their respective sports. Maintenance and financial upkeep of the site continued to be managed by Department for Communities NI.
A major grant investment had already seen the recent total refurbishment of the Boxing Club premises. A significant change occurred with the ‘folding’ of Albert Foundry Boxing Club. Cairn Lodge Boxing Club facing issues around the closure of their own facility by its owner, were welcomed into the Paisley Park sportsplex family, and its new home is now the Boxing Hall premises at Paisley Park. They retained their own name for historical reasons, and have two representatives on the Paisley Park sportsplex Board.
Following representation to Belfast City Council, they along with Department for Communities committed £50,000 each for a complete refurbishment, and track lighting upgrade to the historic gravel ¼ mile Running Track . This work was managed and financially overseen by Belfast City Council, and was completed in time for a late summer opening.
The Bowling Club ‘temporary portacabin’ premises was suffering greatly from age related weathering and wear, and minor repairs and upgrades were carried out throughout the year by Department for Communities. Plans were made to have a new permanent Community Hub building on site, which would also accommodate the Bowlers.
Plans were made for a fully grant funded £1.1 million upgrade and refurbishment, to the existing derelict 3G Football Pitch on site. The Paisley Park Sportsplex Board were pleased with the progress of work and plans for the site, and their continuing aim was to eventually take over fully ‘licenced’ management both daily and financial of the whole site, once a funding stream had been secured via the opening of the new 3G Floodlight Artificial Football Pitch.
The refurbishment, fully funded by Dept for Communities and Belfast City Council, of the 3G pitch was completed in July 2023, and Paisley Park sportsplex commenced to trade on 1[st] Aug 2023.