Holm Park facts for kids

Holm Park is a football stadium located in Armagh, Northern Ireland. It is the home field for Armagh City F.C.. The stadium can hold up to 3,000 people. Another team, Windmill Stars F.C., also uses Holm Park for their matches.

The Story of Holm Park

How Holm Park Began

Holm Park was built because a team called Milford Everton needed a new place to play. Their old home field in Milford no longer met the rules for the Irish League B Division. So, in 1988, Milford Everton moved to Armagh. They joined with another team, Armagh Old Boys, and changed their name to Armagh City.

The club searched for a good spot for a new stadium. In 1991, they leased some land from the Armagh City and District Council. Construction began, and the main football pitch was ready by 1992. More parts of the stadium were added over the next two years, finishing in 1994.

Modern Upgrades and Important Matches

In 2009, another team, Ballinamallard United, used Holm Park. Their own field, Ferney Park, did not meet the rules for the Irish Football Association at the time. So, Holm Park became their temporary home for matches in the IFA Championship 1.

By 2010, the grass pitch at Holm Park was getting damaged often. Many games were played on it, especially when bad weather caused delays. To fix this, Armagh City asked for help from Sport Northern Ireland. They wanted to install a new, modern playing surface.

With a grant, a special artificial grass pitch was installed. This new pitch cost £425,000 and was approved by FIFA, the world football organization. The first official game on the new pitch was a Bob Radcliffe Cup match against Lurgan Celtic. Later, the pitch was officially opened with a game between Armagh City and NIFL Premiership team Portadown.

Holm Park has also hosted other important football events. It has been the location for the final match of the Mid-Ulster Cup. It has also welcomed the Northern Ireland national under-19 football team for their games.