After 124 years since the opening of their current home, Glentoran FC are set on building a 8,000-capacity stadium to replace The Oval. Funding is already secured.

On Monday evening, during the Annual General Meeting, board of Glentoran FC presented plans to build a brand new stadium on the site of The Oval. Fans approved the scheme, some are in fact delighted as they’ve been waiting for more than 2 decades for the long-promised dream to come true.

This time fruition seems just a step away as Glens can use a portion of money from the British government. Northern Ireland has £110 million earmarked specifically for improvement of sports ground, which was so far used for the Kingspan Stadium and Windsor Park.

Glentoran can count on up to £10 million from the fund, though their own estimates put the stadium cost at £9.2 million ($13.5 million). This would allow the creation of four covered grandstands able to hold 8,000 fans, 2,000 of them standing.

Glens were also analyzing relocation from the 124-year-old ground, but two alternative sites (Sydenham and Titanic Quarter), but eventually decided that staying home is the best option.

© Jon Wickenden

© Jon Wickenden