Background

Saintfield United is a cross-community football club which was founded in 1972, originally playing in the Newcastle and District Amateur Football League (NADAFL). The Club joined the Northern Amateur Football League (NAFL) in 1986, and gained intermediate status in 1987. The Club currently fields two adult teams in the NAFL; the 1st XI compete in Division 1C, and the 2nd XI in Division 3C. Due to a recent increase in membership, the Club entered a 3rd XI in Division 2 of the NADAFL in 2016/17.

In addition, the Club's Junior Section fields four teams for youths between the ages of 11 and 17, and also operates a Mini-Soccer scheme for children of primary school age.

Due to a lack of public football facilities in Saintfield, only our 1st XI and 2nd XI currently play their competitive football in the village, renting a pitch from the local Education Authority. The remainder of our senior and youth teams are forced to avail of public facilities outside the village. It has therefore been a long-term ambition of the Club to develop our own full-size soccer pitch within the village of Saintfield.

Redevelopment

In late 2017, Saintfield United Football Club received full planning permission for the complete redevelopment of our Comber Road base, which will be developed in a number of phases:

Phase 1 - The construction of a full size soccer pitch. community garden, and associated car-parking

Phase 2 - The extension of our club house and new storage facilities

Phase 3 - The construction of a floodlit training area and new mini-soccer junior pitch.

The development will allow the Club to provide further training, match-day and community activities, to support our growing Club Membership.

The Club is delighted to have secured significant offers of funding from Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, and the Alpha Programme administered by Ground Work NI, to assist with the costs associated with Phase 1. These offers of funding partially cover the costs of Phase 1 of the redevelopment, which is expected to commence in early 2018.

Sponsored Cycle - June 2018

The balance for Phase 1 will have to be generated by the Club through fundraising activities, the first of which is a sponsored cycle around the six counties of Northern Ireland, led by our Chairman, Andy Bishop.

The cycle will take place on, Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th June 2018. Andy's team - which will include youth coaches, current players and friends of the club - will cover approximately 300 miles over the two days, all in aid of raising funds for Saintfield United's redevelopment work.

We would be grateful for any sponsorship that you can offer towards this fundraising event. If you have any questions, or would prefer to make an offline donation, please contact a member of our Committee. Alternatively, please email any enquiries to saintfieldunitedfc@gmail.com