Dirrans Athletic AFC manager Alan Kerr says it was a fitting tribute that the club named their new park after former secretary David Faddes.

David Faddes was a huge part of the amateur side behind the scenes for decades and sadly passed away at the start of last year.

After arranging with Kilwinning Sports club to take over the pitch behind the astroturf last month, they decided to name it David Faddes Park in his memory.

Kerr said: “David was an infectious character who had been at the club since the early 80’s.

“I didn’t realise what he did for me until he was gone, the things I took for granted like postcodes on a Saturday for away games.

“The only way to describe him for anyone who didn’t know him was he was like Manuel from Fawlty Towers.

“If he could get anything wrong, he would and he always seemed to come into the dressing at the wrong time, like if I was giving a team talk, he would walk in during the middle of it.”

The pandemic has led to club being out of action competitively since last March, with current restrictions meaning it may be a little while longer until they can officially open the new ground with a match.

However, it should not be too

long a wait as the club plans to play a pre-season tournament involving Irvine Thistle, Beith Amateurs

and Dalry Amateurs. The tournament will see all the teams playing each other home and away for a cup named after Faddes , in another touching tribute to the local

legend.

Kerr says his players are desperate to get back to competitive football after over a year out.

“Our committee member Gary Porter came up with the idea to get the four teams together to play

for a trophy and name it after David. “

“It is starting on May 22 and we are looking forward to it, the boys are buzzing because there is only so much training you can do.

“Also, we have not opened the ground yet so that will be a decent day as well when we come to play our first competitive game at it and pay our respects properly. “