Any news on Belfield?

[Poor Student]

I've been pretty out of the loop during the offseason not visiting here much. Are we staying in the long term? How did we get the licence with regards to the ground? Did we put up any plans for future development? Is the Belfield Bowl story still going around?

[pineapple stu]

Are we staying in the long term?
It's more likely, but not yet certain.

How did we get the licence with regards to the ground?
It seems the emhpasis was on the other four criteria (legal, financial, development and administration) before the grounds are looked at. Solid base to build upon and all that.

Did we put up any plans for future development?
We've had planning permission for a 1200-seater stand on the hill for the past couple of years. I think the club were raising money for it when ***** took over as President, which stalled things. Not sure where that's going now, to be honest.

Is the Belfield Bowl story still going around?
Latest apparently is that the missus has objected to a load of noisy fans (away fans too, before the smart comments come in!) knocking around her nice new tennis courts!

[Schumi]

There hasn't been any word since the end of the season so I think you know as much as any of us. I assume that we must have submitted some plans for either a future move or improvement of Belfield Park to qualify for the infrastructure part of the licence but which we did or any of the details I don't know.

[Poor Student]

Stu I'm not sure Brady is quite the Satan he intially emerged to be. The expenssive doing up of his house turned out to be big renovation plan to bring buildings up to standard approved before his tenure and the prviate gym some old equipment he moved into his house. The people throwing accusations at him about these things ended up looking foolish. I don't know how seriously to take these claims about his ideas on Belfield.

[pineapple stu]

Stu I'm not sure Brady is quite the Satan he intially emerged to be.
Actually, p!ss taking aside, I think you're right. He sent his three kids to the club's soccer camp so is at least showing an interest in the club. And whatever about the rugby pitch side of the Bowl, at least mooting a 6000-seater ground for the club is more than other presidents have done...

[Bald Student]

the prviate gym some old equipment he moved into his house.Did he bring the tennis court with him aswell?

[Schumi]

mooting a 6000-seater ground for the club is more than other presidents have done...
You know as well as I do that that's pie in the sky. IF the Bowl is upgraded, it'll be to the minimum specs required by the UEFA licence; i.e. 1,500 seats and no more.

[pineapple stu]

Still more than others have suggested...

Must find out the latest news on Saturday though... Bear in mind I don't think the club have actually ever sat down and discussed things with Brady, even to see where they stand!

[Schumi]

Still more than others have suggested...
If he suggested building the Camp Nou on the Bowl, it's still be no better when it doesn't happen. :rolleyes:

[pineapple stu]

But what'll Shakespeare do with his new revolutionary rotary lawnmower?! :)

[CollegeTillIDie]

Guys

I have spoken to officials of the club about this. Whatever about moving, it won't be to the Bowl. There is a full length(all weather I think) soccer pitch now behind the Sports Centre as well as two five a side ones. I think that was the proposed site for the new Belfield Park. However as time goes by it has become less likely that the original Belfield Park will be built on.
The campus now has only 3 pitches that have been passed to host first class matches (i.e. that includes pre-season friendlies, el matches and any matches under F.A.I. jurisdiction). All three are in the same corner of the campus. 1/ Foster... The Reserve/Under 21 pitch just inside the gate and parallel with Foster avenue. 2/ New Merville..... the pitch directly outside Belfield Park.... you walk across it from the car park on your way into games...
3/ Belfield Park.... our beloved home !

I have mentioned this before , and to club officials;- if a pitch or two need to be sacrificed to provide accomodation for students it should be a fairly crappy one. The obvious candidate would be the Owenstown Pitches for the the following reasons :- 1/ both of them are located nearer to the faculty buildings than Belfield Park 2/ There are flats and a shop already across the road from them. Thus the water and sewer pipes won't have too far to be extended only across the road. 3/ They are dire anyway certainly not first class pitches.

If you are going to surrender playing surfaces it would be wiser to lose the dross.

[Poor Student]

1/ both of them are located nearer to the faculty buildings than Belfield Park 2/ There are flats and a shop already across the road from them. Thus the water and sewer pipes won't have too far to be extended only across the road. 3/ They are dire anyway certainly not first class pitches.

If you are going to surrender playing surfaces it would be wiser to lose the dross.

Not first class is an understatement. Is it just me getting a 5 second glimpse on the 17 every morning or is there 1 metre at most between the sideline and the goalkeepers box? :eek:

[pineapple stu]

I remember watching a Superleague game there and some lad picked the ball up as it went over the sideline...only for the ref to give a free in, as the line in question was actually the penalty area!

[Bald Student]

Has any clever goalkeeper ever tried to catch a corner as it was being taken by standing at the edge of his area?

[pineapple stu]

Don't you have to be five (or ten?) yards back from the kicker? THat probably forces you to stay in your goal for the kick!