Ferney Park facts for kids
| Full name | Ferney Park |
|---|---|
| Location | Ballinamallard, Northern Ireland |
| Owner | Ballinamallard United F.C. |
| Capacity | 2,000 (250 seated) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1975 |
| Renovated | 2006 |
| Expanded | 2012 |
| Tenants | |
| Ballinamallard United Fermanagh Mallards |
|
Ferney Park is a football stadium located in Ballinamallard, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is the home ground for Ballinamallard United, a local football team. The club first started using Ferney Park in 1975, the same year it was founded.
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The Story of Ferney Park
Ferney Park has changed a lot over the years. Since 2006, the stadium has had many updates. These changes helped it meet the rules for different football leagues.
Upgrades for Better Games
In 2008, new rules for the IFA Championship meant Ferney Park needed improvements. Ballinamallard United played their games at another stadium for a while. This allowed time for Ferney Park to be made better. The team returned to their improved home ground in December 2009.
New floodlights were added in 2010. These lights meant games could be played in the evenings. This was a big step for the stadium.
Joining the Top League
In 2012, Ballinamallard United moved up to the IFA Premiership. This is a top football league in Northern Ireland. Ferney Park needed more upgrades to meet the league's high standards.
Fans helped raise money to build two new stands. These stands gave more people a place to sit and watch games. The football pitch was also re-laid with new grass. All this hard work was finished just in time. Ferney Park hosted Ballinamallard's first Premiership game. The new stands were officially opened at this exciting match.
An Unexpected Moment
During a match in December 2012, some fans ran onto the field. This caused a brief stop in the game. The club had no warning this would happen. The police were there but did not take action at the time.
Who Plays at Ferney Park?
Ferney Park is a busy place for football. It is the main home for Ballinamallard United's senior team. Their reserve teams also play matches there.
A Home for Women's Football
The stadium is also home to the Fermanagh Mallards women's football club. This shows how important Ferney Park is for all kinds of football in the area.
Hosting Special Events
In 2012, Ferney Park hosted a special game for the Northern Ireland Milk Cup. This is a big youth football tournament. The opening game was between Fermanagh and English team Newcastle United. This event celebrated the Milk Cup's 30th birthday. It was a chance to play games in new locations.
A Unique Location
Ferney Park has a reputation for being a bit tricky to find. Sometimes, media teams covering games would get lost on their way! This unique location means that TV channels sometimes used the club's own video of matches. It adds to the charm of this special football ground.
