Lakewood celebrates its all-weather pitch

A CORK soccer club will celebrate the official opening of one of the most advanced all-weather pitches in Ireland this week.

The €550,000 pitch is the most ambitious project in Lakewood FC’s almost 40-year history.

FAI Chief Executive John Delaney and Agriculture Minister Michael Creed are expected to attend the official unveiling of Lakewood Athletic’s new FIFA-accredited, full-size all-weather floodlit pitch on Wednesday, which has been developed at its grounds just outside Ballincollig.

Mr Delaney, who is in Cork with senior FAI officials as part of a Festival of Football, paid tribute to the club ahead of the unveiling.

“The progress made at Lakewood has been tremendous to see,” he said.

“The club first approached the FAI over two years ago with their plans for an all-weather pitch and we committed to supporting them on the project.

“The FAI supplied €170,000 to help fund the project and it is fantastic to see such a great facility that will serve the local community and hopefully develop more international players,” he added.

A barbecue, a range of family-friendly activities including a crossbar challenge and keepy-uppys, and several exhibition games are planned before the new pitch hosts its first competitive game, a clash between a Cork City selection and Lakewood.

Exhibition games featuring walking football and the local special Olympics team are also planned.

SIS, which designed, built or installed its specialised SIS Grass surface at six of the 12 World Cup stadiums in Russia this summer, and which works with some of the biggest clubs in sport in world sport, including Manchester Utd and Barcelona, has spent several weeks this summer installing its SIS Hybrid surface at Lakewood.

Club spokesman Brendan Lenihan said they are excited about having such a state-of-the-art facility.

“This is the best artificial grass surface pitch in Cork with the most advanced LED flood lighting,” he added.

“As well as allowing the club accept new members, the new pitch will provide significant benefits for the wider community and will be a fantastic addition to a multi-sport campus.

“It will deliver public health benefits by increasing participation in soccer and sport, by providing football-for-all opportunities, and it will be available to local groups to rent,” explained Mr Lenihan.

“But crucially for us, it will mean that Lakewood Athletic will be open for new members of all ages.” New dressing rooms, storage units are also part of the development.