Ex-striker lends support

Former Ards striker Stephen Baxter expressed his support for the Bring Ards Home campaign in the local press this week.

Baxter's comments included references to the youth of the Ards area being tempted away to sign for other clubs, due to the nomadic state of the local team. 

The current Crusaders manager, who can track his Ards playing days back to the mid-eighties, now runs a successful sports shop in Newtownards and he sought to highlight how fondly he remembered his time at the club.

He recalls, "Back when I was an Ards player in 1985, Ards were seen as a top Irish League team. The Ards supporters were large in number and had a travelling support envied by all other teams outside of Linfield and Glentoran. Given the proud history of this club, it is really sad to see them struggling."

The strong sporting tradition in the area was something well known to Baxter, who had a long and distinguished career with Crusaders, Linfield and Glenavon. "Football is in the blood in this Borough," he said, "A new generation of young talent is taking the field week in, week out with Ards Youth and Ards Rangers Youth. It is our responsibility to give them a goal to aspire to by making the grade at the highest level possible."

As Council deliberations on what sort of upgraded facilities to provide for the townsfolk continues, Stephen had a simple message for the local politicians.

"I encourage all those with the power to invest in the future of our young people; to put in place facilities that will benefit the Ards Borough, complemented by a senior football club we can be proud of and put Ards back on the map."

The Bring Ards Home campaign holds its next public meeting on Wednesday 18th March at 8pm in the Ards Sports Club.

16th March 2009

ardsfc.co.uk