Commenting, representatives from the Crusaders Stadium Working Group, Mark Langhammer and Tommy Whiteside said:

“A 3G pitch will allow us to intensify our usage of Seaview and open the stadium

for usage 7 days a week. The brutal fact is that Irish League football doesn’t pay – it doesn’t add up as a business!  What we intend is to develop a recreation

business at Seaview, with a high quality, high tariff offer – but with ‘off peak’ periods being used developmentally to accommodate local schools, youth organizations, grassroots football across all communities.

 “The 3G pitch will also cement our partnership with Newington YC. Our wider stadium and Sports Village plans remain ‘live’ and on track for the North Foreshore. Building the business from ‘Day One’ at Seaview will allow us grow naturally

towards a new Stadium complex.”

Minister for Sport, Nelson McCausland commented: “I congratulate Crusaders FC

on their foresight in becoming the first Irish Premier League  Club  to install a Third Generation pitch and I am delighted that my Department has contributed through Sport Northern Ireland the full cost of this new surface.  This is another example

of how funding from my Department through sport can help communities develop

and improve the sporting infrastructure of Northern Ireland."

The 3G pitch was wholly funded by Sport Northern Ireland who provided an investment of £209,000.  Speaking on behalf of Sport Northern Ireland, Chief Executive Eamonn McCartan said:

“As the lead agency for the development of sport in Northern Ireland, projects

such as this are integral to our core strategy.  We work to develop a culture of lifelong enjoyment and success in sport, ensuring that people have access to sporting facilities and encouraging high quality participation in sport from childhood right through to adulthood.  Participation and performance in sport are important drivers and the delivery of outstanding sporting venues is the key mechanism to achieve this. The third generation pitch we are officially opening today will help deliver these aims and the end users who will benefit will extend from the club through to schools, academies and the wider community."

Crusaders manager, Stephen Baxter commented:

“There’s a quiet revolution going on down the Shore Road, on and off the pitch.

We won the Irish Cup last year, and were third in the League.  Our Womens team, the Strikers, won the Womens League.  We have made great progress in

developing our youth structure. This season our “Academy North” partnership with Cliftonville will seeing the addition of several trainees. And we want to kick on, at

all levels.

“Further progress depends on developing non football income and significantly widening our support and customer base. Good community relations, a modern stadium offer, a step change in our schools, academy and community sport programmes will all help us reach a different level.

“As a manager, I would admit some reservations about artificial surfaces.  But financially, we also have to live in the real world. Our Stadium Working Group are moving mountains off the field, in order that we can remain competitive on it.  We all work together at Seaview – all for one and one for all – the 3G decision was a ‘whole club’ decision.”

The development of the new surface at Seaview represents a significant step towards long term sustainability for the Irish League club. With support from the Invest Northern Ireland Social Entrepreneurship Programme the Crusaders Stadium Working Group have developed a business plan for the new facility. Working with Work West Enterprise Agency Business Advisor Stephen McGarry a new social enterprise has been established that will oversee the business development area of club affairs and the club looks forward to further support and guidance throughout this new phase in the clubs history.