Dear Forum,
The most obvious argument for the imminent construction of an all-weather surface in Campbeltown in relation to Campbeltown sport, and in this case football, can be made by the comparison of Campbeltown Pupils' double-header against Port Glasgow OBU in recent weeks. Due to cup competitions elsewhere featuring neither side, the only possible fixture was an away game for the Pupils at Port OBU.
The first game at Kintyre Park, on 24th September, saw Port Glasgow score early, so early that it didn't have any bearing on the final result. Fraser Wylie eased any early nerves and the Pupils' physical and technical superiority throughout the second half resulted in a justified 4-1 scoreline.
On Saturday (October 15th) the match at Port Glasgow was played on a 4G surface, and the unnatural bounce of the ball, and the extraordinarily tight park benefited the home team; Campbeltown Pupils struggled throughout the first half because of their relative inexperience on the surface compared to their opponents who, throughout the winter months at least, doubtless train on the surface and are well familiarised with it. Eventually the Pupils won the game, but with far less ease than in September at Kintyre Park.
As it stands, synthetic surfaces will retain this alien property to 'town teams, from Coca-Cola 7s with Dalintober or Castlehill to a Premier Two match with the Pupils! The lack of one undermines the quality of Campbeltown sports-people (in this case footballers) who, until they spend time away, are not at all exposed to different surfaces than grass.
There are a number of people whose tireless campaigning for an all-weather surface has made its proposed construction a palpable possibility, so my point here is hardly out of the blue! It's more of a sincere hope that, when the construction is finished in 2012, all who want to use the pitch, no less than those who want to pursue football at an amateur level in Campbeltown, can get used to what a great facility it will be all year-round, and certainly in the winter months.
One day it will be no more incredible than our shiny-new swimming pool and gym was in 2006, simply a symbol of what we as a sport-loving community have longed for and deserve. Sports teams will, without any doubt, see plenty benefits in the results its use will bring.