Dumbarton FC: Appeal to find new training pitch

Jul 10 2009 by Andy Galloway, Lennox Herald (main ed)

DUMBARTON FC are desperately seeking a new training venue just weeks before the new season after their usual pitch was badly damaged by fire last week.

The astroturf surface at St Andrew’s High School in Coatbridge, which Sons used during their title-winning campaign last year, was hit by the blaze on Sunday, June 28.

And with the 2009/10 season due to get underway at the end of July, Sons’ training schedule could be in limbo for at least the first few weeks.

Manager Jim Chapman said: “It means having to find another venue to take training once the season gets underway.

“The pitch could be out of use for the next two months and finding another suitable training venue is not as easy as people think.

“We cannot just go anywhere to train – we have to set up somewhere the facilities are suitable.”

Firefighters from Coatbridge and Bellshill had to climb over fences to tackle the blaze at the pitch, which is thought to have been started by “dropped lights”, such as a cigarette or lighter.