Ballymena United have welcomed a decision from Mid & East Antrim Borough Council which will see a new 3G pitch installed at The Showgrounds – with work set to begin next year.

The Sky Blues’ fixture schedule was heavily impacted by postponements throughout the most recent season with a number of matches called off due to an unplayable pitch following bad weather.

Ballymena’s plans for a new high-performance 3G hybrid pitch at the Co Antrim venue were approved by the council’s Planning Committee on Thursday in a major boost for the Irish League club.

In a statement provided to the News Letter in January, a spokesperson for Mid & East Antrim Council, who own The Showgrounds, said that “agreements are in place to upgrade the surface of the Showgrounds main arena pitch at the end of the 25/26 season”.

placeholder image — A new 3G pitch is set to be installed at the Ballymena Showgrounds in 2027. (Photo by INPHO/Lorcan Doherty)

However, work on the pitch will now only commence in summer 2027, meaning Ballymena will have one more season to navigate through before welcoming their new playing surface.

The club have revealed “an extensive maintenance programme is currently underway” on the present grass pitch “to ensure minimal disruption to the fixture schedule” for next term – Oran Kearney’s side had six home matches postponed across all competitions in 2026.

"Ballymena United welcomes the decision from Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s Planning Committee this week to approve the development of a new high-performance pitch at Ballymena Showgrounds main arena,” Ballymena said in a statement. “The proposed installation of this new pitch place is scheduled to commence in summer 2027.

“Ahead of the impending 2026/2027 season, supporters can be advised that an extensive maintenance programme is currently underway on the existing grass pitch to ensure minimal disruption to the fixture schedule.

“Ballymena United FC continues to engage positively with the council, local businesses and existing stakeholders to collaborate on new long term opportunities to enhance the Showgrounds complex, as we approach the milestone of 100 years of senior football at the venue.

“The club wishes to express sincere thanks to both the Planning Committee and all the dedicated individuals who have worked to secure this positive development in an exciting new chapter for Ballymena United FC and the Ballymena Showgrounds.”

Ballymena manager Kearney was clear addressing the pitch was a top priority with conditions impacting his side’s style of play.

"It's horrific,” he said in March. “It's horrible, and it's even crazy now when it's starting to dry, it'll get worse because it'll dry out and then bobble.

"This side (beside the main stand) of the pitch is really, really particularly soft, and then the other side, parts of it are quite firm.

"It's cost us because we shouldn't have...as a part-time team it's not ideal to have five games in 14 days.

"But we've had that because of the pitch, and it's purely because of the pitch. So it hasn't been ideal, but it is what it is.

“You can’t play, it's just like a game of rugby.

"To be fair, we've put in some good performances and we've played some good football at times, but it just makes it...even to look at it, it looks bad, but trust me, you take a walk across it, how we've even been able to play bits and pieces, it's a credit to everybody.”