Newforge
| Location | Belfast,Northern Ireland |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 54°33′30″N5°56′39″W/ 54.5583°N 5.9443°W |
| As of 28 August 2011 Source:Ground profile | |
Newforgeis a country club inBelfast,Northern Ireland.It was founded in 1956 for members of theRoyal Ulster Constabularybut has developed into an open club with multiple sports facilities.[1][2]
History
[edit]Newforge was founded in 1956 after the grounds were purchased by theRoyal Ulster ConstabularyAthletic Association (RUC AA).[1]Though it was originally a private club for serving and retired police officers, membership was later opened to others.[2]
In 2005, £50,000 from theNorthern Bank robberywas found at Newforge; it was believed to have been planted by theIRAin order to frame the police.[3][4]
In 2012, there were proposals for the RUC AA to change their name to the "Police Athletic Association Northern Ireland" on the grounds that the more generic name would entitle them to more grants for the association and Newforge.[5]Following unionist political objections, the proposal was dropped.[6]
In 2017, Newforge applied for an EU grant but was rejected and vetoed on appeal.[7]The decision was overturned by 2019, with Newforge being awarded €5.8 million.[8]
Facilities
[edit]Newforge contains several sports pitches. It is home toNewforge Lane,which is used byPSNI F.C.for association football, and a Gaelic games pitch forPSNI GAA.[2]There is also a hockey pitch, though this has fallen into disuse.[9]In 2013, Newforge hosted theWorld Police and Fire Games.[10]It had also been used as the training facility forUlster Rugby.[11]
Newforge has acricketground. In 2005, the ground hosted aList Amatch in the2005 ICC TrophybetweenNamibiaandPapua New Guinea,[12]which Namibia won by 96 runs.[13]
References
[edit]- ^ab"HISTORY OF THE RUCFA".PSNI Football Association. 1 June 1922.Retrieved6 May2020.
- ^abc"Stone the crows..."Pitchcare. 16 April 2016.Retrieved6 May2020.
- ^"Money found at Belfast club from Northern Bank".Irish Times. 20 February 2005.Retrieved6 May2020.
- ^"Robbers 'trying to deflect blame'".BBC News. 20 February 2005.Retrieved6 May2020.
- ^"Athletic Association plans to remove RUC link in name change".BBC News. 9 March 2012.Retrieved6 May2020.
- ^"RUC association retains its name".BBC News. 22 March 2012.Retrieved6 May2020.
- ^"Police sports club may tackle EU body in court following funding snub".Belfasttelegraph.Belfast Telegraph.Retrieved6 May2020.
- ^"Shared Space Funding Announcement"(PDF).European Union.Retrieved6 May2020.
- ^"Newforge Lane"(PDF).Belfast City Council.Retrieved6 May2020.
- ^"PSNI warm up for Police and Fire Games".BBC Sport. 8 July 2013.Retrieved6 May2020.
- ^"Ulster Rugby" Their decision was made ". Ruan Pienaar opens up on foiled Ulster return as Cheetahs star is back in Belfast".Belfast Telegraph.Retrieved6 May2020.
- ^"List A Matches played on Newforge, Belfast".CricketArchive.Retrieved28 August2011.
- ^"Namibia v Papua New Guinea, 2005 ICC Trophy".CricketArchive.Retrieved28 August2011.