Scotland captain John McGinn backs calls to save Dalmuir Municipal Golf Course

By Bill Heaney

Footballer John McGinn has backed calls to save West Dunbartonshire’s only public golf course.

The Aston Villa star’s plea comes after golfers were issued a letter from West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) – which owns the course – stating that it was an option being considered in their list of possible budget cuts.

The letter adds that the income WDC receives – including its funding from the Scottish Government – is “significantly lower than the cost of delivering its services”.

Sharing the petition on social media McGinn who is one of three footballing brothers and whose grandfather lives in Dumbarton said he was “gutted” to hear this news.

He added: “Gutted to read this. Please sign if you can.”

John and Jack McGinn with the Scottish Cup

Captain of Scotland John McGinn pictured with his grandfather Jack, a past chairman of Celtic, and in his Hibernian strip being interviewed for TV after his team won the Scottish Cup.

The petition was launched by members of Clydebank Overtoun Golf Club, and is one of several circulating in Dalmuir and beyond.

In the last 24 hours, it has gathered more than 3,000 signatures.

Supporters believe their case to keep the golf course open will be given a boost if they go along to the council meeting where the decision will be made and sing The John McGinn Song from the public gallery:–

LYRICS

We’ve got McGinn, Super John McGinn, I just don’t think you understand, He’s Unai Emery’s man, He’s better than Zidane, We’ve got super John McGinn…

Masters caddy Craig Connelly has also backed the petition. He said: “Doesn’t matter where you are from or if you’ve never played Dalmuir, do me a favour and sign this petition. It was only a few years ago that the course was thriving.”

Gerry Smith, match secretary at Clydebank Overtoun, said the response so far has been “remarkable”.

He said: “It’s unbelievable the number of people who have not only shared it but also signed it and left comments. The comments have been absolutely fantastic.

“To see guys like John McGinn and Craig Connelly who are well-known throughout the sporting world comment on it is brilliant, that pushes it even further.

“I was hoping for just over 1,000 signatures so it could go to the council but to get 3,000 and it’s still climbing is unbelievable.

“The response has been remarkable and if I could thank everyone individually I would.

“Hopefully, it’s enough to try and persuade them [WDC] to keep the golf course open.”

The proposal to downsize/close Dalmuir is one of a range of money-saving options that will be presented to councillors at WDC’s budget meeting on March 6. It comes as the local authority works to plug its £17 million budget gap.

A West Dunbartonshire Council spokesperson said: “A meeting of West Dunbartonshire Council will take place next month to discuss the budget for the upcoming financial year. No final decisions will be taken on any of the options presented until this meeting.”

The odds that the course will be saved from closure are not good and McGinn could find himself on the losing side on his home turf.

The council turned down a plea from users of Balloch Library, which carried with it more than 1,500 signatures, to keep it open.

There is also a decision in the offing to close the Pavilion Cafe which has massive support from the community, including the hundreds of people who take part in the Parkrun at Levengrove.

IN addition a petition with 1100 signatures to save the GP practice of a doctor who was wrongly dismissed and later re-instated didn’t even make it to the council’s Health and Social Care Committee.

To view the petition visit HERE.

Top picture: John McGinn, centre front row, at a coaching session he ran for pupils of his old school, St Stephen’s, Dalmuir, during the holidays. With him is the Council education convener Clare Steel.