IT’S turning into the biggest fight in Kintyre’s sporting history – getting an all weather pitch for Campbeltown.

 But sportsmen and women in the town are prepared to go the distance and met in the Burnet Building last week with South Kintyre’s three councillors to plan the campaign.

Campbeltown remains the only major centre of population in Argyll and Bute without such a pitch.

 For football clubs like the Pupils and the Boys it means training in the dark or by streetlight on wet, muddy, uneven surfaces and this is beginning to show in their results when bad weather prompts a long lay-off.

 One big step forward was the suggestion at last Wednesday’s meeting by the Campbeltown Pupils that Kintyre Park be converted into an all weather pitch.

 Soil samples would have to be carried out and it would have to be confirmed whether Scottish Amateur Football League matches can be played on the pitch.

 The Meadows Playing Fields has always been a favoured site but the depth of the peat on the Meadows, which would have to be removed, would make this a very expensive option.

 Putting the pitch alongside the grammar school is also an option; though the school estates has not yet decided what it is going to do about the future of the grammar school building.

 It was agreed that Councillor John Semple would take the project forward and it may be a matter for the KIWG to consider.

 ‘We have got to keep the pressure on,’ said Councillor Rory Colville.

Kintyre expects the council to fund the Campbeltown pitch in a similar manner to the other pitches throughout Argyll with funding from ABC alongside funding from Sports Scotland.

Councillor Donald Kelly added: ‘We will keep shouting for this in the council chamber but it is going to be an uphill struggle.’

 A spokesman for South Kintyre Sports Council said: ‘The meeting tonight was positive and a step in the right direction. We find it totally unacceptable that Kintyre remains the only place in Argyll and Bute Council with no access to all weather facilities. We cannot wait on the council agreeing the school estate; this could be five to 10 years away.

‘We are the only secondary school in Aryll with no all weather pitch.

 ‘For sports clubs in Campbeltown to be training in the dark while all weather facilities have been provided elsewhere is unacceptable and Argyll and Bute Council should be highly embarrassed by this.’

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