Ballymena United are demanding answers from Mid and East Antrim Council as they seek a “solution” to major ongoing drainage problems with the Showgrounds pitch.
The Danske Bank Premiership club’s Irish Cup tie with Portstewart, scheduled for 3pm on Saturday, was called off due to a water logged surface after a late-morning inspection.
And this was despite other playing surfaces nearby being fit for David Jeffrey’s first team squad to train on following a period of rain.
Photographs taken by the Braid club show the Showgrounds pitch in a dreadful state, with one supporter on Twitter claiming the penalty area looked like a “paddy field”.
Others branded it “brutal”, “savage” and “shocking”, while another added: “The pitch in Portstewart is in better shape than that bog. Shambles.”
Hopes were high when a new surface was installed and laid in 2018 as part of a substantial investment in the sporting facility by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council.
But despite ongoing remedial work, drainage problems persist and many are now wondering how the pitch is currently in the state it is.
In a statement, Ballymena United said it was “extremely disappointed” that the Irish Cup tie was unable to proceed “due to a badly waterlogged pitch”.
Chairman John Taggart said: “It is extremely disappointing to see the pitch in this state when all other games, both Irish Cup and local Saturday Morning League, were all able to go ahead.
“Indeed the senior side were able to train on another grass pitch within the complex this afternoon with no problems.”
On pursuing the matter with council, Taggart said: “Ballymena United are committed to finding a solution from Mid and East Antrim Council to ensure that the Showgrounds main arena surface is of a standard befitting the highest standard of local football.”
