Former Newry High School Head Girl and Head Boy Unite to Support Call For Upgraded Sports Facilities

Two former Head Pupils of Newry High School have joined forces to support calls for urgent investment in upgraded outdoor sporting facilities at their former school

Joanne Patterson and David Taylor, who served as Head Girl and Head Boy at Newry High School, are lending their voices to the growing case for improved facilities, reflecting both their shared experience as former pupils and their ongoing involvement in the local community.

Both say they want current and future generations of young people to have access to the sporting opportunities and facilities that can support participation, personal development, health and wellbeing.

The call comes amid continuing concern over the lack of suitable outdoor sporting provision at Newry High School.

In a recent letter to the Department of Education, the school’s Board of Governors highlighted that Newry High School remains without access to a suitable grass or synthetic pitch and that pupils currently rely on two gravel pitches dating from the 1960s.

The Board has described the situation as a longstanding inequality and has called for urgent action to address what it says is an unacceptable deficiency in outdoor sporting provision.

As a former pupil and Head Boy, David Taylor said: “Newry High School played an important part in my own development, and during my time there I fully embraced the sporting opportunities available to me, including hockey and football. Those experiences were not only enjoyable but helped to build confidence, teamwork and discipline. I want the young people attending the school today, and those who will attend in the future, to have the same opportunities. It is only right that they should be able to participate in sport on facilities that meet modern standards and provide the best possible environment for learning, training and competition. The school is also a vital resource for the wider community. Local sporting organisations have long relied on access to its facilities, and without that support, opportunities for participation would be significantly reduced because of the shortage of available playing space in the area.”

Joanne Patterson, a former pupil and Head Girl at Newry High School, said her support also reflects her experience as a parent and as Chairperson of the local Carnbane Girls Youth League Sub-Committee.

She said: “As someone who was proud to attend Newry High School, I know the important role the school plays not only in the lives of its pupils but within the wider community. Through my involvement with the Carnbane Girls Youth League, I have also seen first-hand the enormous demand for suitable and accessible sporting facilities, particularly for girls and young women. Newry High School has been a tremendous supporter of girls’ football and community sport. The school’s willingness to provide access to its facilities was invaluable to the Carnbane Girls Youth League during its formative years. However, demand continues to grow, while suitable indoor and all-weather facilities remain limited. Investment in improved outdoor facilities at Newry High School would be transformational. It would create more opportunities for young people, support the continued growth of girls’ football and strengthen the school’s role as a community hub. This is about recognising the value of a school that has already shown such a strong commitment to its pupils and its community and giving it the facilities it deserves.”

The Irish Football Association has also given its strong backing to the case for enhanced football facilities at Newry High School, highlighting the school’s established role in supporting football development and community participation, including the delivery of Shooting Stars sessions, McDonald’s Fun Football programmes, Carnbane Girls Youth League fixtures and Irish FA coach education and development activity.

Lauren Moore, Women’s Football Development Manager at the Irish Football Association, said:

“The Irish Football Association fully supports the case for facility development at Newry High School. The school has demonstrated a strong commitment to football development, community engagement, inclusion and widening participation. It is particularly well positioned to maximise the impact of investment because of its existing relationship with the Irish FA and its role as a key hub for girls’ football activity in the local area. Enhanced facilities would unlock significant opportunities for participation growth, particularly within the female game, while also supporting broader community engagement. We are confident that investment in Newry High School would deliver meaningful and lasting benefits for both the school community and the wider area.”

Colin Whiteside, Chair of the Board of Governors at Newry High School, said the need for appropriate outdoor sporting facilities had existed for far too long:

“For over a decade, Newry High School has worked to secure adequate playing facilities. The fact that our pupils continue to rely on two gravel pitches dating from the 1960s is simply not acceptable for the delivery of a modern Physical Education curriculum. Our pupils only have one opportunity to benefit from their post-primary education, and we have a responsibility to ensure that they have access to appropriate facilities that support their educational development, health and wellbeing. Newry High School is a viable, sustainable and essential part of the local community. The school has secured planning permission, completed a business case and developed a community plan, yet the project has repeatedly stalled. We are calling for a renewed and urgent commitment to addressing this longstanding deficiency and for a clear pathway towards the delivery of appropriate outdoor sporting facilities for our pupils and the wider community.”

The support from former pupils, community volunteers and the Irish Football Association adds to the growing call for investment in Newry High School’s sporting infrastructure.

For Joanne Patterson and David Taylor, the issue is a deeply personal one. Both benefited from their time at Newry High School and now believe that the next generation of pupils should have access to facilities that reflect the needs and ambitions of a modern school and that can serve the wider local community for years to come.

ENDS