A LOCHWINNOCH football team secured its most important victory of the season by finally completing refurbishment work on its home ground.
The facilities at Viewfield Park, which hosts Viewfield Rovers and Glentyan Thistle, had fallen into disrepair over the years and were in desperate need of a new lease of life.
There were fears that Rovers could be forced out of the Caledonian League due to the “unusable” condition of the changing rooms.
READ MORE: Bid to refurbish facilities at much-loved Lochwinnoch football ground
But the park is now unrecognisable after players, supporters and the local community rallied round to raise thousands of pounds for a revamp.
The facilities were badly in need of some tlc (photo: Viewfield Rovers)
Rovers coach Alistair McMaster admits he was worried his team would be evicted from its home.
He told The Gazette: “There was no electricity, no water, no showers or changing rooms we could use.
“The place was basically run down and we were in danger of losing our spot in the league as we had nowhere to play.”
Faced with the prospect of being forced to leave Lochwinnoch – its home for nearly 100 years – and rent pitches elsewhere in Renfrewshire, the club launched an online fundraising drive, led by Laurissa Stirrat.
A host of money-spinning events, such as a firewalk, were staged to generate the funds needed for a major refurbishment.
There was also help from local tradespeople who worked for free or at a cut-price rate to carry out the transformation, which included new flooring, a new roof and completely revamped changing rooms.
Alistair is keen to thank everyone who supported the club in its time of need.
Viewfield Rovers coaches Andrew Irving (right) and Alistair McMaster show off the new changing room
He added: “I reckon the work probably would have cost around £15,000 in total but we were fortunate to receive so much support from local companies.
“We’ve also been really lucky in getting great support from friends and family who have done a lot of jobs for free for us.
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“We have developed these facilities so that everyone in the village can enjoy them.
“Not many clubs are fortunate enough to have use of their own facilities and we are lucky to have them.”
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