Let there be light at Barrfields as Largs Thistle look to the future

With the club entering the new West of Scotland Football League, David is looking to an enterprising future as it attempts to get an SFA licence in future seasons, and the trek for silverware.
Currently the changing rooms are being updated, and as we revealed last week, plans are in place to update the terracing with a new roof and disabled access by teaming up with Cllr Alan Hill and the Barrfields Users Group.
And David said, like the new floodlights plan, that the future is bright for Thistle as they get ready to hopefully welcome supporters back to the stadium when the new season resumes, possibly as early as July 17.
David said: "We are looking at the possibility of bringing floodlights to Barrfields Stadium - other clubs like Kilwinning Rangers and Irvine Meadow have been investing in floodlights so it makes sense for us to look at it and it means that we would be on a level playing field."

This week Thistle's Premiership rivals Cumnock FC, another team with floodlights, applied for a full SFA Licence which would effectively allow them to enter the senior Scottish Cup - teams like Largs have been watching as other clubs including Highland League side Brora Rangers shocked Hearts, while Linlithgow Rose pushed Dundee into extra time in a previous round of the cup, as opportunities are now arising for clubs to make their mark on the senior scene.
David said: "We are looking at drawing up planning permission in the first instance and looking for financial assistance.
"It would mean we could have night time football matches and there would probably be a cut-off time.
"We have some floodlights at the club already which was introduced many years ago to allow for training purposes but we want to push ahead.
"It would be too early for next season but possibly the season after, and we have been having meetings with the council through the auspices of the community club with our committee member Kaye Robertson."
David praised manager Stuart Davidson and the players for last season - the first in the new West of Scotland Premier League - which only lasted from October till December, but he said it was till a very worthwhile exercise for all concerned.

He said: "The club did well to get these games played - I'd rather have had some of a season rather than no season at all.
"It gave us an advantage over the sides which didn't play in that we got to keep our players and build them up and we also got a look at some of the other sides and how they have been building.
"There is a lot to look forward to next season with the new hospitality cabin and the dressing rooms being upgraded and the changes to the kitchen area.
"We have got to look towards fans hopefully coming back too - I am hopeful that this will happen with the vaccines having kicked in and all the restrictions lifting. We have got to aim for that.
"Fans will notice a big difference when they come in."
One of the major obstacles for Largs Thistle during the past year has been the lack of revenue coming in so having supporters return to stadiums when football returns is a vital component. The club benefitted with over £1,500 coming into the club through the Donate a Ticket campaign.
One additional help for Largs was that during last season they played seven of their eight games - including their Soccer Shop Scottish Cup tie versus Dalbeattie Star - at Barrfields Park.
David said: "We only had one away game - and that was relatively close by at Kilwinning, so at least that helped that there were no long away journeys."
"Another pleasing thing was that we had some young players coming through with the likes of Sean McLeod holding down a first place while we also had the likes of Andy Rutherford and Jack Loudon featuring.
"With the launch of the Under 20s development league, there will be dual contract meaning that the players can step up to the first team, and now that Sean, Andy and Jack have had a taste for it, hopefully it will have a knock on effect.
"I am looking forward to it.

Manager Stuart Davidson - pic: Ryan Scott Photography (Image: Ryan Scott Photography)
"Stuart Davidson has done a tremendous job - he has built a new team from scratch pretty much and they are exciting to watch with goals in the side too.
"We enjoyed some great victories over Kilwinning, Dalbeattie Star and Blantyre Vics. Rossvale once again proved to be our bogey team but we will beat them eventually."

And David has welcomed the plans by Barrfields Users Group to provide outside entertainment at Barrfields Park which will in tandem help provide structural improvements to the stand roof which has long been a problem over the years.
He said: "I remember when I was a boy that Barrfields used to host the likes of the Brisbane Queen festival and you had all the floats doing a parade around the ground.
"It is great that Barrfields could be used for potentially other uses, and it can help benefit the community club as well so it is a win win situation, and again, Kaye has been heavily involved in that."