By DYLAN INGLIS
PAUL DAVIES reckons Newmains’ old clubhouse reminded him of a church hall.
Now he thinks the revamped HQ is a place to worship.
Club chairman Ken Davies has worked overtime during lockdown to transform the club’s base.
The changing rooms have been upgraded as a has a new converted closed-off space for match officials.
Davies and fellow co-boss Craig Gupwell also have their own office complete with photos of players from their past including ex-Scotland boss Craig Brown, Lisbon Lion Tommy Gemmell, former Celtic keeper Pat Bonner and one-time England international Joe Baker.
He said: “The new clubhouse is superb. The job started the day we got in here which must have been a good two-and-a-half years ago now.
“When we got in it was just a shell - it was almost like an old church hall! It was cold, damp and really quite unpleasant. Now it’s a lounge, it’s a proper club.
“The changing rooms have been upgraded and there are future development plans to try to make a community sport hub.
“We’re always striving to improve the place. This week I’ve been on the phone to concrete companies to see how much it would cost to put pathways round about the ground
“It’s a bit like the Forth Road Bridge - the work never ends!”
Davies paid tribute to chairman Ken Davies, who has carried out the bulk of the work.
He said: “The work that has gone on is absolutely fantastic, and that’s 100 percent credit to Ken the chairman.
“The time and effort he has put in over the last couple of years has been incredible, not just on the clubhouse itself but everywhere.
“He is constantly up doing all the work and this is all down to him.”
Davies believes the new office will be a huge benefit.
He added: “The office has been done really well. The room gives myself, Craig and the rest of the staff somewhere to meet with players and do our work.
“The clubhouse is lovely but having a manager’s office means we have a bit of private space.
“When we’re signing players – as we are at this time of year – we can bring them into to have more of a private chat with them, assuming restrictions allow of course.
“I hope the facilities are something that can even help bring in new players. I’d also like to think people already at the club recognise the hard work that goes on.”