New Stadium

[gufc2000]

Is next season Harps' last season in Finn Park?

Any updates on the new ground?

[Mr A]

Hopefully it'll be our last year, perhaps second last. Work is in progress.

[redobit]

Not completion date! All the money not in place yet so.

[nigel-harps1954]

Supposed to be our last season in Finn Park anyway, but who's to know. I've heard that the steel structures are to be put in place in the new year, but again it all depends on the drawdown of grant money.

[ForzaHoop]

Alright all

I am a Shamrock Rovers supporter but now living in Donegal, is there any progress on the stadium or is it still a field due to funding, I'M hoping to get to a few games this year

[nigel-harps1954]

Alright all

I am a Shamrock Rovers supporter but now living in Donegal, is there any progress on the stadium or is it still a field due to funding, I'M hoping to get to a few games this year


Honestly, nobody knows. We're being kept largely in the dark. Work was supposed to be at full steam before the end of the summer, but as of yet, there's very little happening.
The money is supposedly there, and the construction company are working away on other projects, so I'm not entirely sure what's happening.

[ForzaHoop]

Allot progress already

2033

2034

2035

2036

2037

[nigel-harps1954]

A lot of progress indeed. Club secretary has stated the stadium is to be finished by 2015. Brilliant to see. It's full steam ahead from here. Hopefully we'll get a monthly update from the club on work. Hope to get regular photos myself once the season starts again.

[ForzaHoop]

Any progress ? will youse get to play a game in it soon or not

[Mr A]

As far as I know, building work is continuing. By the summer the main structures should be in place according to a recent interview on Highland.

[nigel-harps1954]

Work ongoing at the minute after delay due to the poor weather. I'll try get some pictures in the next couple of weeks and get some sort of update on things. I believe next season is the aim.

[Neish]

was round there week before last, not much change since froza hoops pictures. Hope to get round next week or week after and take a few pictures.

It will be at least 2015 before we are playing there, as I'm told it take 10-12 months to grow a pitch from scratch and a lot of work before planting too.

[Mr A]

Big blue crane just erected at the new Finn Park.

http://www.harpstalk.com/images/stadium_mar14.jpg

[nigel-harps1954]

It's for the Sky Sports 'above the ground' camera.

[Keen2win]

Why does this take so long? I'd have this done quicker with a shovel!

[nigel-harps1954]

Why does this take so long? I'd have this done quicker with a shovel!

Rome wasn't built in a day.

Probably the reason Longfords stadium is in such disrepair in parts ;)

[Mr A]

Why does this take so long? I'd have this done quicker with a shovel!

Mostly- good old fashioned bureaucracy and red tape.

[ForzaHoop]

Any update, i remeber when Tallaght was being built there were millions of pics flying around

[Neish]

Any update, i remeber when Tallaght was being built there were millions of pics flying around

There was very little happening at the site for last few years so why would we post pics. Hope to post more every so often when there is big additions made. Go to http://www.harpstalk.com/forum where there is a section dedicated to the project for more

[Mr A]

Latest photos are here: http://www.finnharps.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1284:progress-continues-at-new-finn-park&catid=40:stadium-news&Itemid=90

[ForzaHoop]

New Finn Harps stadium will be complete before club moves, AGM told


55 42 0 0

BY CHRIS MCNULTY

FINN Harps’ new 6,600 seater stadium in Stranorlar will be completed before the club moves into its new home, shareholders at last night’s AGM heard.

‘Significant’ progress has been made in recent weeks with structural work, in the form of the main stand, visible for the first time.

While some club sources had hoped the club could relocate once the 1,954-seater main stand – which houses dressing rooms and administration facilities – was completed, shareholders heard last night that the development must be finished before Harps can turn the key of the door.

“The agreement between all parties is that the stadium must be completed before Finn Harps moves over,” Stadium Development Committee member John Meenan told a low-key AGM in Jackson’s Hotel, Ballybofey.

“To change that would mean a complete re-negotiation of the contracts. As we stand it will be completely complete before the club moves over.”

A deal was struck with developers – Joseph McMenamin and Sons – which will see them granted ownership of the current Finn Park. By the end of this summer in excess of €1million will have been spent on the project.

Mr Meenan said: “The stadium is now showing real signs of progress. The plan is that the west stand will be completed by September and we have high hopes that it will happen. This progress is significant.”

The AGM in what is Harps’ 60th year was attended by just 24 people.

“It is a very disappointing turn-out for an AGM,” acting chairman Sean Quinn said.

“It wasn’t an easy year for the people involved.

“It was a tough year; the end of the year was very tough. It was probably our worst season in thirty-two years.

“We need a stronger board and we need a bigger board. There is a lot of help needed for a lot of jobs around Finn Park.

“This is not a Ballybofey club – it is a Donegal club, a north-west club and we’re appealing for the help of the whole area.”

Harps record a small trading profit of €1,114 for the year ending November 30 2013, their books boosted considerably by the €24,024 received for the transfer of former player Stephen McLaughlin from Derry City to Nottingham Forest last January.

“Without that, you would be looking at a significant loss,” accountant Seamus Devine warned.

Harps saw training facility expenses rise by €10,000, wages took a €20,000 increase from 2012, while meals, travel and accommodation jumped by around €7,000.

[nigel-harps1954]

It's all good news.

[Green]

Any more pics of how things are going?

[ForzaHoop]

Drove by and saw crane, shouldn't have pulled in too look, anyone near for more pics

[Mr A]

Here's the last one I saw.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/t1.0-9/10525998_297238067124344_3228472706436982227_n.jpg

[nigel-harps1954]

Will hopefully get a picture in the next week or two of progress, but far as I know, not much has changed structurally in the past few weeks. A bit of work gone into the admin block, but by christmas the main stand should be next to near complete from what I was told, obviously weather dependent too.

[nigel-harps1954]

https://www.facebook.com/finn.schools/posts/625763547539682

Full set of photos posted today here. 27 in total. Really progressing on now.

[gufc2000]

Really starting to take shape now. Is it full steam ahead or are they waiting on the drawing down of funds to complete it? All going well you'd think the 2016 season might be realistic to move into it?

[nigel-harps1954]

Really starting to take shape now. Is it full steam ahead or are they waiting on the drawing down of funds to complete it? All going well you'd think the 2016 season might be realistic to move into it?

Word on the next drawdown is due in October and should be full steam ahead on the second stand for the start of 2015 with the main stand in the latest pictures to be as good as completed by around Christmas.

If all goes to plan, and work continues on schedule, there's a possibility of 2016, but it's looking more realistic to be 2017.

[ForzaHoop]

http://www.finnharps.com/fhfc/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/10686765_625762524206451_1056922893808356459_n.jpg
http://www.finnharps.com/fhfc/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/10616073_625762960873074_2867632893302354140_n.jpg
http://www.finnharps.com/fhfc/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/10616364_625762590873111_8474051078182095602_n.jpg
http://www.finnharps.com/fhfc/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/10670184_625762780873092_7393726148597730153_n.jpg
http://www.finnharps.com/fhfc/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/10686765_625762524206451_1056922893808356459_n.jpg

[nigel-harps1954]

Roof of the main structure hoped to be in place by the end of the year. Focus at the minute is on the main stand and admin block which will house most of the main facilities in the ground including dressing rooms, tv gantry, press boxes, offices and shop.
The next thing that'll be visible to public from the outside will be the roof however.
1 million spent already.

[Darklordsbane]

Hope it's finished in time for your promotion to the premier league in 2016 season

[ForzaHoop]

Much progress since the XMAS break or has it stalled ?

[nigel-harps1954]

Much progress since the XMAS break or has it stalled ?

Not a huge amount to be seen on the outside. Last they were doing was working on the admin block itself. The next grant draw-down is for the roof on the main stand far as I'm aware.

[ForzaHoop]

Anymore new pics of progress ?

[Mr A]

Not sure there has been much progress recently. :( Hopefully we'll get a further allocation in the next round of sports capital grants to get motoring again.

[nigel-harps1954]

We were due to have the roof on the main stand by now, but waiting on the next draw down of grants is a bit like waiting for your missus to get ready for a night out.

[ForzaHoop]

Been to all the home Games so far except one as Rovers were in Derry, crowds are getting bigger by the Game, not a great atmosphere of singing or any Ultra stuff but i would guess this will improve in new ground.
Mad Club don't update info on stadium progress as there was so much progress last year

[nigel-harps1954]

Been to all the home Games so far except one as Rovers were in Derry, crowds are getting bigger by the Game, not a great atmosphere of singing or any Ultra stuff but i would guess this will improve in new ground.
Mad Club don't update info on stadium progress as there was so much progress last year

Atmosphere tends to be much better away from home as not enough 'active' people congregate in one area in Finn Park. As crowds improve though atmosphere will too, hopefully, but already this year it's a damn sight better than it has been for the past number of years. For a few years Finn Park was like a ghost town, a lot of which can be attributed to a lack of any away crowds too.

There's an update due on the stadium at the clubs AGM in a couple of weeks time.

This was the latest picture I saw, back in March, and it's safe to say, not a huge amount has gone on in the last few months.

http://www.finnharps.com/fhfc/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/1IMG_20150226_125406-e1426682453108.jpg

[ForzaHoop]

Would be great to get in for next season especially now Club is attracting larger crowds, i was impressed with crowd at Shels Game except Shels who brought 7 or 8 supporters and loads of young lads buying merchandise which is essential for Club. Govt have given there allocation to FAI which i hope will spill down to Harps ASAP for Roof.
Better grounds attract bigger crowds like Tallaght, Turners X

[nigel-harps1954]

Harps AGM was held tonight and they gave an update on the stadium situation. There's been a number of hold ups, but work is due to get back on track again very shortly.

Separately, there's a second crane on site apparently, or at least parts of a second crane. Could mean either that work on the second stand could begin, or that a second crane for the roof of the main stand is required.

Will post more details as I get them.

[ForzaHoop]

Hey Nigel

So anything started on the Ground since, they should get a good run at the building over the summer if the weather stays good

[nigel-harps1954]

Part of me is starting to think we're going to end up with Tallaght Part II ForzaHoop.

[ForzaHoop]

Two stands and nothing at the ends with clubhouse etc
I think any club would settle with that for the time being, Tallaght with 2 sides is amazing, so professional and
great atmosphere

[nigel-harps1954]

I was talking more in terms of the length of time it was left sitting.

We're getting a full stadium. It's in the deal with the developer that Finn Park isn't handed over to them until the stadium is finished.

[ForzaHoop]

OK :) You would think they would want to get the work done ASAP to get the monies

[nigel-harps1954]

OK :) You would think they would want to get the work done ASAP to get the monies

Out of Harps hands sadly.

[ForzaHoop]

Terrible to see no news or updates on Progress from Harps - Not much happening on the Ground either I'm guessing

[nigel-harps1954]

Site was cleared up there around two weeks ago, assume it was simply for visit of Minister of Sport to Harps Schools Programme, but it is indeed incredibly frustrating waiting for more news.

[ForzaHoop]

Lets hope the monies gets released soon so the work can be done while the sun shines literally