Ards FC: A return to Newtownards - P1 - Planning Permission

Established in 1900 Ards Football Club is one of the oldest and most prestigious football clubs in Northern Ireland. However, the club has been without a permanent home ground since 2001 when due to well documented reasons under previous Boards, they had to sell their Castlereagh Park ground.

For over 20 years, a piece of Ards' heart has been missing. It wasn't a player, a coach, or a trophy. It was the ground itself - the hallowed turf of Castlereagh Park. The memories of echoing cheers, the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat - all etched into the very soil.

Now, a chance whispers of a homecoming. The land on the Portaferry Road has been secured, the plans have been drawn up, surveys totalling over £80k have been completed and paid for, with our final planning application submitted.

Unfortunately, the responses from the various statutory bodies require several unexpected additional surveys to be commissioned , with these fees standing as the only hurdle between the planning application going before the Council, providing Ards FC with the opportunity to return home to Newtownards.

This isn't just about a pitch; it's about reigniting a community spirit that has been lost in the town for two long decades.

Imagine the joy on the faces of lifelong fans who haven't seen their beloved Ards play on home soil since their childhood. Imagine the roar of a new generation, discovering the magic of the beautiful game in the town where legends were made and League Championships won.

This isn't just a ground; it's a promise. A promise to returning heroes, a promise to wide-eyed youngsters, a promise to a community that we believe will bleed Ards red and blue again.

With your help, we can turn that promise into reality. Let's bring Ards FC back to Newtownards, where it belongs. Let's rewrite the ending, let the cheers echo once more, and let the heart of Ards FC finally come home.

Donate today and be a part of this heart-warming homecoming story.