A forward-thinking Down GAA club is banning plastic bottles from its training grounds and dressing-rooms.

Saul GAC will operate a strict 'no plastic' zone from next Tuesday, October 1. The club will install outdoor water stations and will also provide aluminium water bottles to its players.

Club spokesman Daniel Bohill told Belfast Live: "This ban will be absolute and will include members and visitors alike. In the coming weeks we will be purchasing and fitting an outdoor water bottle refill station and we have commissioned aluminium water bottles to be made available to all our members, bearing the club crest and player name.

"We anticipate that many clubs, across sport, will follow suit but we believe, though we stand to be corrected, that we are the first Gaelic club to take this step, possibly in Ireland.

"The reason for this decision is two-fold, firstly we listened to our members who have been pushing for us to take positive strides in relation to our waste footprint as a club. The younger members especially have been instrumental in pushing this decision. Secondly, plastic bottles have become a blight on our ground."

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