Protecting our Future at Tummery Athletic FC

Aim

We are crowdfunding to upgrade and install new fencing around our main pitch to make it more secure, and to grow local football in Dromore.

Who are we?

Tummery Athletic FC is a volunteer-led, rural, community-based football club located in Dromore, County Tyrone. Our Club serves adults and young people across a 30-mile radius, covering Dromore, Fintona, Omagh, Trillick, and parts of Fermanagh.

We are the only soccer club within a reasonable distance offering regular weekly soccer activities.

Our facilities at Crawfords Lane in Dromore include a full-size grass pitch (our main pitch), a 3G facility, MUGA, car park, and small changing facilities. We have 23 teams (the majority are youth boys and girls teams, with 2 senior teams) and over 300 members, catering from aged six and upwards. 

Our Club provides daily regular football and physical activity opportunities for people living in our rural catchment through coaching sessions and competitive matches throughout the year. A key focus for the Club is growing our girls’ sections. Earlier this year, we successfully delivered a Crowdfunder campaign focused on levelling the playing field for girls who want to play football in Dromore (supported by Sport NI).

Each week, we welcome hundreds of visiting players as well to our facilities- children, young people, and adults, as well as spectators through matches and other activities at our grounds. We continue to create opportunities that support better physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing through sport. Our Crawfords Lane base has undergone major transformation in recent years, and these developments now put us in a strong position to expand participation further.

Why are we crowdfunding?

We are crowdfunding to install new perimeter fencing around our main grass pitch at Crawfords Lane, Dromore. As shown in the images below, there is currently little to no secure fencing in place, and the limited sections that exist are made of old, deteriorated wood that has become unsafe and urgently needs replacement.

As noted, our facilities are used weekly by hundreds of children, young people, and adults from across a wide rural area surrounding Dromore, with numbers continuing to grow- particularly among females. With 23 teams, over 300 members, and visiting teams every week, our main pitch is central to football in our community in Dromore. However, the lack of suitable fencing has created ongoing challenges, including risks to the safety of spectators and youth, frequent loss of footballs from the pitch, general security concerns, incidents of antisocial behaviour on the pitch, unauthorised access to the pitch, and difficulty maintaining the quality of the playing surface. These issues result in significant ongoing costs and maintenance for the Club.

The new fencing will protect our main playing field and the wider investment the Club has already made in our facilities, safeguard players and spectators, and keep the pitch in better condition for training and matches. It will also help us meet facility standards required for hosting league fixtures in future as we have ambitions to move up the leagues. Most importantly, it will create a safer, more inclusive, and welcoming environment for everyone who uses our grounds.

The installation of new fencing is also essential for our long-term development as a club. As we continue to grow and have long term ambitions to progress through the league structure, we must always think about facility standards, which include secure perimeter fencing for safety, match control, and spectator management further up the leagues. Without this upgrade, we will be unable to host higher-level league fixtures in the future, limiting our ability to grow and compete.

Here are some images highlighting the issues with the current main pitch and lack of suitable fencing:

Olympic Legacy Fund Alignment

This project aligns directly with the aims of the Olympic Legacy Fund by modernising a key community soccer facility in Dromore County Tyrone, improving accessibility and safety, and encouraging increased participation in football across all ages and abilities. Installing new perimeter fencing around our main grass pitch will secure and protect one of the most heavily used sports spaces in Dromore (and the only soccer pitch).

The fencing will modernise our grounds, reduce ongoing maintenance costs, and ensure the facility remains safe, fit for purpose, and available year-round.

By securing our pitch, we can run more structured training sessions and host additional competitive fixtures, particularly during winter months when weather and surface damage can limit use. It will also allow us to safely accommodate larger numbers during youth and senior matches, providing a better environment for players, coaches, and spectators. 

The improved facility will support increased participation among children, women, and older players—groups we have been actively engaging the last 12 months through initiatives such as our new girls’ development programme and inclusive youth coaching sessions.

The new fencing will also improve safeguarding and peace of mind for parents, who will feel more comfortable leaving their children at the club knowing the grounds are secure and access is controlled. A safer environment will also make it easier to attract and retain volunteers, coaches, and match officials who give their time to support the Club’s activities.

Referees and visiting teams have raised ongoing concerns about the lack of suitable fencing, noting how footballs frequently roll off the pitch and onto adjoining areas, delaying matches and reducing the overall quality of play. The new fencing will address these issues, helping us to maintain higher standards during training and competition, and ensuring a more professional and enjoyable match-day experience for everyone involved.

This project will also tackle incidents of vandalism and antisocial behaviour by securing the site and protecting valuable assets including goalposts, dugouts, and spectator areas. 

Through this campaign, we aim to raise 35% of the total project cost, enabling Sport NI to contribute 65% through the Olympic Legacy Fund. 

Together, we will deliver improved, safer, modern rural sporting facilities that promote participation in football, health, fitness wellbeing, and community pride in Dromore and the surrounding rural area for many years to come.

How we’ll spend the money raised

All funds raised through this Crowdfunder will be used solely to install new perimeter fencing around the main grass pitch at Tummery Athletic FC, Crawfords Lane, Dromore. 

The project involves the supply and installation of a 1.2m high KFS-SPECTATOR welded mesh fencing system, including all posts, concrete foundations, mesh panels, top rail, fittings, and powder-coated finish. A total of 250 metres of this fencing will be installed at a cost of £63 per metre, giving a total of £15,750.

In addition, 20 metres of 4.0m high KFS-868 welded mesh fencing will be installed in specific areas of the ground where higher fencing is required for safety and protection. This will cost £159 per metre, totalling £3,180.

Two 1.2m wide pedestrian gates will be fitted to match the fencing at £675 each, totalling £1,350. One 4.0m wide service gate will also be installed at a cost of £1,300.

The overall project cost is £21,580. Through this Crowdfunder, we will raise 35% of the total cost (£7,553), with the remaining 65% (£14,027) to be contributed by Sport NI through the Olympic Legacy Fund.

All funds raised will go directly towards the fencing materials, gates, fittings, and installation work.

Community impact

Our Club plays a vital role in community sport in Dromore and the surrounding rural area. As noted, each week, our facilities at Crawfords Lane are used by more than 300 members across 23 teams, from Under-6s to senior squads, alongside hundreds of visiting players and spectators from neighbouring areas including Fintona, Omagh, Trillick, and parts of Fermanagh.

Installing new perimeter fencing will make a measurable difference to how our club operates. It will improve safety, reduce antisocial behaviour, and protect the pitch from damage and unauthorised use. This will cut ongoing repair and maintenance costs, allowing us to reinvest savings directly into football development and participation programmes.

With a safer, enclosed facility, parents will have greater confidence in leaving their children at training, encouraging higher participation in youth football- This includes more parents volunteering as well. For example, the improved perimeter fencing will create a safer, fully enclosed environment, which is especially important for our Mini-Soccer sessions. At this age, the kids are taking part in their first structured football sessions. A secure boundary will help coaches and volunteers supervise younger players more effectively, prevent children from accidentally leaving safe areas, and reassure parents. This improved environment will enable us to increase capacity, welcome more young players, and further grow Mini-Soccer participation as the first step in our player pathway.

The project will also create a better environment for volunteers and match officials, supporting the Club’s plan to upskill 10+ new volunteer coaches within the IFA coaching pathway, and 3 new referees within the next year. These individuals will complete recognised Irish FA National Coaching Certificates, C-Licence courses, and Referee Development Programmes, strengthening our capacity to deliver more structured, high-quality sessions.

The upgraded facility will allow us to increase pitch usage by at least 15 additional sessions per month, supporting expansion of our Mini-Soccer Centre, Junior Player Pathway, and Girls’ Development Programme, which has already doubled in membership over the past year. 

We also plan to develop further player development initiatives such as our Goalkeeper Academy and Striker Academy. For the wider community we will introduce a new Walking Football programme for older adults (3 x 6 week blocks over the next 12 months on our grass pitch), and a Dads and Lads / mothers and others recreational football programme (2 x 8 week blocks), promoting fitness, wellbeing, and social connection across all ages.

Overall, this investment will secure and strengthen a key community sports facility, enabling Tummery Athletic FC to deliver more inclusive, high-quality football opportunities that support participation, wellbeing, and community pride in Dromore for years to come.

How you can play your part

There are four simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a reality.

1. Make a pledge. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success!

2. Spread the word. Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.

3. Offer rewards. Get involved if you are a local business by donating things we can offer to our supporters. We will give you a shout out!

4. Fundraise for us. If you want to run your own fundraiser – maybe a sponsored activity or similar – use the 'contact project' button at the top of our page to let us know. Setting up your own page only takes a few minutes and you won’t need any bank details. Just a fun idea!

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made