Winter Sports - Football


“ 56 I PC APRIL/MAY 2018


I was just starting at the same time the first 3G pitch had been installed and, to be honest, knew nothing about the artificial pitches at that time


able to undertake friendly fixtures until they were admitted to some of the local junior Alliance Leagues.


However, there was a strict no pay no play policy for players who wanted a game in those days. Players were compelled to pay a match fee of two old pence before they could take the field.


Seaview Park became home for Crusaders


FC in 1921 after moving several times from previous venues, including the Glen (which later became part of Alexandra Park), Cavehill Road, Simpson's Boiler Fields, Shore Road (opposite the Grove) and Rokeby Park. Checking the club’s history, Seaview Park was officially opened on Saturday, September 3, 1921 by William Grant, MP, just before kick‐off in an Intermediate League fixture against Cliftonville Olympic. There have been a number of changes over the years at Seaview Park including the


first stadium in the Irish League to install a 3G pitch. This historic event took place in 2009 and a new floodlighting system was installed at the same time.


During the 2010 to 2011 season, the club embarked on the next stage of the redevelopment of Seaview Park and constructed two new stands at the Railway End and the Shore Road End as well as the installation of seats in the old ‘unreserved’ stand.


One of the most popular features is the mural that graces the corner of St Vincent Street which is where the main entrance to the stadium is located.


The groundsman in charge of looking after the pitch and stadium is John Flack from nearby Glengormley. He has been looking after the premises for the past nine years and is very meticulous about keeping it in pristine condition.


After spending many years working as a labourer on building sites, John was introduced to groundcare by the previous groundsman at Crusaders FC.


“I had been working on the sites around Belfast and later was asked to help out at Seaview Park with the previous groundsman,” said John. “Working in groundcare was not a path that I had ever thought about, but it was one that found me in the end. During my ‘work experience’ the groundsman became unwell and could not return to work.”


“The club asked me if I would step in and take over both the stadium and the pitch. I was just starting at the same time the first 3G pitch had been installed and, to be honest, knew nothing about the artificial pitches at that time.”


“I learned very quickly how to look after the 3G pitch and have taken some training courses over the years to top up my skills. I was even sent over to Kilmarnock Football Club to look at the 3G pitch there and learn from it,” he said.


The current artificial pitch at Seaview Park has been installed for the past two years; it


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