Stadium Updates (All Clubs)

[EalingGreen]

Sorry if this is the wrong thread, but it seems the ROI played their first international at Lansdowne in 1971 (vs Italy, ECQ), but continued to play some internationals at Dalymount thereafter, alternating between the two until the last at DP in 1989, a friendly v Morocco. (Also a couple at Tolka and one at the RDS!):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matches_of_the_Republic_of_Ireland_national_footba ll_team

Why this flitting between the two? Capacity? Finances? Availability? UEFA Competition Regulations?

Meanwhile, my one trip to Dalymount was in August 1978, a psf with Bohs v Spurs:

I (think I) remember it for a few reasons:
1. Spurs had just made two impossibly exotic signings in Ardiles and Villa, fresh from their World Cup triumph, and this was their first appearance in a Spurs shirt;
2. After the game, we somehow managed to get inside the main stand, in the corridor by the dressing rooms, and saw close-up the whole Spurs team squeezing by us etc. Ricky Villa is still the swarthiest footballer I've ever seen!
3. I have to say, I wasn't hugely impressed by Dalymount as an international stadium; never mind Wembley or Hampden, I still reckoned Windsor was better back then (also Ninian Park?);
4. Before the kick-off, the Announcer said there would be a minute's silence for Pope Paul VI, who had not long died. But after about 20 seconds, some wag on the terrace behind the goal broke the silence by shouting "58, 59, 60!", with the ensuing guffawing forcing the ref just to blow his whistle and get on with the game.

Funny thing is, I can't remember a damned thing about the match itself - i think Spurs won 4-0?
[https://yourfootballprogramme.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Bohemian-v-Spurs-1978-1000x1474.jpg

[pineapple stu]

No fault Nesta, us early 40-somethings have to be excused these only occasional lapses. I remember a friendly against France in Dalymounts in the late 80s. It made an appearance on my Road to Italy VHS tape and made some sort of strange impression.
Andy Townsend's debut; a 0-0 draw. I remember making an Irish flag for it and crayon-colouring it green-white-orange on one side and orange-white-green on the other, not knowing that the colours were always read from the hoist.

Couldn't tell you anything about the game other than that. Memory is a weird thing!

[Nesta99]

Sorry if this is the wrong thread, but it seems the ROI played their first international at Lansdowne in 1971 (vs Italy, ECQ), but continued to play some internationals at Dalymount thereafter, alternating between the two until the last at DP in 1989, a friendly v Morocco. (Also a couple at Tolka and one at the RDS!):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matches_of_the_Republic_of_Ireland_national_footba ll_team

Why this flitting between the two? Capacity? Finances? Availability? UEFA Competition Regulations?

Meanwhile, my one trip to Dalymount was in August 1978, a psf with Bohs v Spurs:

I (think I) remember it for a few reasons:
1. Spurs had just made two impossibly exotic signings in Ardiles and Villa, fresh from their World Cup triumph, and this was their first appearance in a Spurs shirt;
2. After the game, we somehow managed to get inside the main stand, in the corridor by the dressing rooms, and saw close-up the whole Spurs team squeezing by us etc. Ricky Villa is still the swarthiest footballer I've ever seen!
3. I have to say, I wasn't hugely impressed by Dalymount as an international stadium; never mind Wembley or Hampden, I still reckoned Windsor was better back then (also Ninian Park?);
4. Before the kick-off, the Announcer said there would be a minute's silence for Pope Paul VI, who had not long died. But after about 20 seconds, some wag on the terrace behind the goal broke the silence by shouting "58, 59, 60!", with the ensuing guffawing forcing the ref just to blow his whistle and get on with the game.

Funny thing is, I can't remember a damned thing about the match itself - i think Spurs won 4-0?
[https://yourfootballprogramme.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Bohemian-v-Spurs-1978-1000x1474.jpg

Thats a good question!! In later years Jack would have liked a pitch that was torn up by rugby in the days before, half joking he may have opted for the ground with the worst pitch. Beating Spain in Lansdowne 1989 is a famous result that Ireland's best defender has often been given to the pitch but by those days standards it wasnt awful! It was in April so wouldnt have been dug up by the rugby lads.

[Nesta99]

Andy Townsend's debut; a 0-0 draw. I remember making an Irish flag for it and crayon-colouring it green-white-orange on one side and orange-white-green on the other, not knowing that the colours were always read from the hoist.

Couldn't tell you anything about the game other than that. Memory is a weird thing!

Mad that you mention that as I did the same thing I think for the Barry Kehoe testimonial at Oriel Park and thinking good job it wasnt a Welsh flag or something a bit more complex - at least I think I was past using crayons by the time of the Irish training session in Oriel before the WC '94 qualifier in Windsor....

(there was the u21 games mid 80s as possibilities)

[sbgawa]

Hmm, you are correct and right SLK, I obviously wasnt clear in memory and always thought that game was in Dalymount. I may be mixing up games though in meagre defence I was 8 at the time. My first time in Dalymount was the 88 cup final - if someone now tells me that was in Landsdowne Road too Im off to see a doctor in the morning!


An ireland 11 played Nottingham Forest in 1980 in Dalymount, i was at that match.
I could be wrong but i think Jennings and George Best played, maybe thats what you are remembering

[Nesta99]

Thats one I really dont recall even seeing footage of tbh (I doubt i'd have been allowed head off to the game myself back then;)). So Shamrock Rovers All-Island XI v Brazil was 1973 and reasonably regularly crops up on TV, The Brady daisy cutter goal from RoI v Brazil also gets replayed occasionally. Both in Lansdowne I now know. I think from the clip of the goal it just resembled shooting in to the Shopping Centre end in Dalymount but I should have copped the 'new' stand in Lansdowne Rd in the background at some point since. I know one of Trappatoni's early games was v Forest. Would have been good to see the 1980 vintage Forest side as European Champions or on the way to winning it!

This is the image of the Brady goal v Brazil that I had in my head and wrogly thought it was Dalymount.
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tarFsaOEzbw/hqdefault.jpg

[nr637]

I think Boh's should just copy Finn Harps idea for covered terracing (1500) behind both away goals and a similar type Jodi Stand (3000) on the opposite Connaught Road side.

[D24Saint]

The time for talking is over, Ireland’s football facilities need to come out of the dark ages – The Irish Times (https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/2022/08/15/the-time-for-talking-is-over-irelands-football-facilities-need-to-come-out-of-the-dark-ages/)

Article in The Irish times on the issue of stadiums.

[nigel-harps1954]

The time for talking is over, Ireland’s football facilities need to come out of the dark ages – The Irish Times (https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/2022/08/15/the-time-for-talking-is-over-irelands-football-facilities-need-to-come-out-of-the-dark-ages/)

Article in The Irish times on the issue of stadiums.

Those are a lot of words without a whole lot of substance. Starts off okay, and then just tails off into a bit of lazy nonsense.

[Philosophizer]

I think Boh's should just copy Finn Harps idea for covered terracing (1500) behind both away goals and a similar type Jodi Stand (3000) on the opposite Connaught Road side.
The current plan is almost exactly that, but the terraces at the ends will be lopsided because of the shape of the site. The current big terrace is owned by the shopping centre and not part of the site.

[Nesta99]

'Robbie Keans's quiet relationship' were the FAI not hiding that they were paying him to do nnothing?

[Calcio Jack]

Sorry if this is the wrong thread, but it seems the ROI played their first international at Lansdowne in 1971 (vs Italy, ECQ), but continued to play some internationals at Dalymount thereafter]

I wasn’t able to go to the Italy match but still remember cycling to Lansdowne on the Sunday before the match to watch them train- and got Mazzola,and Fachetti’s autographs and others ; there was no security etc. and it was great to see what to me were almost ‘gods’ in the flesh ( right up there with our own Mick Leech) whom we’d all got to know via TV coverage of the 1970 World Cup finals….. innocent times

[sbgawa]

'Robbie Keans's quiet relationship' were the FAI not hiding that they were paying him to do nnothing?


What exactly is the quiet relationship we have with Robbie Keane? Its so quiet I'm a supporter and don't know about it :)
I know he is mates with a few of the staff and shows up from time to time but AFAIK that's it.
Might have a youngster in the Academy as well i think but i don't think he has any official role.
That article is a bunch of rehashed blah blah

[EatYerGreens]

What exactly is the quiet relationship we have with Robbie Keane? Its so quiet I'm a supporter and don't know about it :)
I know he is mates with a few of the staff and shows up from time to time but AFAIK that's it.
Might have a youngster in the Academy as well i think but i don't think he has any official role.
That article is a bunch of rehashed blah blah

By "quiet relationship", do they mean 'hush money' ?

[sbgawa]

He still dreams of playing for rovers I think.

[nr637]

What exactly is the quiet relationship we have with Robbie Keane? Its so quiet I'm a supporter and don't know about it :)
I know he is mates with a few of the staff and shows up from time to time but AFAIK that's it.
Might have a youngster in the Academy as well i think but i don't think he has any official role.
That article is a bunch of rehashed blah blah

Knowing the FAI, probably about €100,000 a year contract that is still running! :mad:

[Philosophizer]

Knowing the FAI, probably about €100,000 a year contract that is still running! :mad:
100K would be nice. It's actually over 250K per year he's getting from the FAI for sitting on his Swiss - 5K per week!
It's still running as far as I know.

[Nesta99]

Is that the going rate for a spy these days! Is it true that he really isnt considered a good coach or is that just rubbing it in for why he got the job and has since refused ambassador roles, academy coaching guesting around the country, wouldnt go the mutual termination route or pay reduction, refused outside job offers that dont pay as much for a new inexperienced coach. For all that JD has done this episode almost worked - managed to appoint the 2 popular choices to the same job while getting his eyes and ears on the ground and where his man was intended to be learning the ropes to be next in the job. It was probably one of his most impressive schemes if he had lasted long enough to see it through

[Burnsie]

The Irish Times piece on Monday said the fourth stand in Tallaght is 2,500, and will increase capacity to 10,500. Where did those extra 500 seats come from? I had thought it'd just be a replica of the one at the other end

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/2022/08/15/the-time-for-talking-is-over-irelands-football-facilities-need-to-come-out-of-the-dark-ages/

[placid casual]

Tallaght currently has capacity in and around 7,300, give or take some seasts on East stand as a buffer for away fans, so an additional 2,500 seats would see prospective attendedances of around
9, 800 if full.

[Asterix]

Tallaght is 8000 without the buffer zone at the away end and the blocked seats at the front of the east and south stands. South stand holds 2160. North stand will be bigger.

[nr637]

All this talk about Tallaght and its stands, what about other clubs. Most don't even have proper stands. Finn Harps, Drogs even Shels, UCD and Dundalk. And we won't even go to the First Division.......!

What is it about Stadium building projects here over the years, Build one stand to start with and they will come!

Field of Dreams - People Will Come!

[2 Year Contract]

What is it about Stadium building projects here over the years, Build one stand to start with and they will come!

Field of Dreams - People Will Come!

Athlone would beg to differ!

[Nesta99]

Athlone are unique in a number of ways, never really fit the norms. I agree that Finn Harps should have one main stand in Stranrorlar and playing there on a purpose laid pitch rather than a bit of a field that gets an occasional cut, and they'd not be still going from scratch today. The single stand would have been a platform to kick on from for harps who still have an attachment to their community. Athlone could be playing home games in Croke Park and the people of Athlone would barely notice.

[Neish]

Athlone are unique in a number of ways, never really fit the norms. I agree that Finn Harps should have one main stand in Stranrorlar and playing there on a purpose laid pitch rather than a bit of a field that gets an occasional cut, and they'd not be still going from scratch today. The single stand would have been a platform to kick on from for harps who still have an attachment to their community. Athlone could be playing home games in Croke Park and the people of Athlone would barely notice.

Couldn't disagree more, would have current Finn Park in its currents state over a soulless one stand venue

[nigel-harps1954]

Couldn't disagree more, would have current Finn Park in its currents state over a soulless one stand venue

You and me both. Athlone situation was the nightmare scenario for Harps. Would have been devastating for the growth of the club.

[Nesta99]

Couldn't disagree more, would have current Finn Park in its currents state over a soulless one stand venue

A means to an end! Athlone's experience should not influence the decision making elsewhere.


You and me both. Athlone situation was the nightmare scenario for Harps. Would have been devastating for the growth of the club.

Can this be shown or is a matter of opinion? The issue with a single stand if it all stops at that forever and and a day. Now I know there is some contradiction, even irony, to believe that finishing the main stand and moving in would have expedited further development, but It is my opinion, one that I cant back up, is that at a minimum Harps would have the stand and at least 2 terraces behind each goal done and it would not be implausible that a 2nd stand was done also as to have had the 1st one completed would mean that there werent the issues that delayed the whole project.

That said, I can completely understand the negative response to a single stand in terms of atmosphere etc. But to take Tallaght as an example, it was one stand finished initially and the stadium then in use and additional developments came in reasonably quickly afterwords. The relief to have a place called home for Rovers fans probably dampened any concerns about moving in with a single stand in place. (At least I think there was just the main stand for a while while the ground was used by Rovers).

[Mr A]

A single stand ground was not acceptable to us. No or very little atmosphere, hard to build the match night experience that draws people in and keeps them coming, soon people are saying the other stands aren't needed. Tallaght was different as a council was driving it and they were coming from no home at all to a massive catchment area.

[Nesta99]

A single stand ground was not acceptable to us. No or very little atmosphere, hard to build the match night experience that draws people in and keeps them coming, soon people are saying the other stands aren't needed. Tallaght was different as a council was driving it and they were coming from no home at all to a massive catchment area.

The council ended up driving it, it was an initial 1 stand development by the club only as a stepping stone to further development.

[bohsmug]

Even if they closed in the ground a bit in Athlone it would feel better. Like the way it is in Broadhurst park for FC United.

[Mr A]

Even if they closed in the ground a bit in Athlone it would feel better. Like the way it is in Broadhurst park for FC United.

Yeah the high cover on the two sides with spectator stands make a huge difference there. Class little ground.

[SPXcyan]

Even though it hasn't worked for Athlone it is a nice solid stand, and with the camera finally facing the stand for the game over the weekend it certainly looked better, one would imagine that a solid Finn Harps team would easily fill that stand on a regular basis, so a second stand would surely follow quickly even if it were to end up as a one stand thing.

The RSC certainly improved a lot with the added second stand all those years ago so I definitely know what it's like to sit in a stadium with a single stand, the atmosphere was just odd, even with a big away crowd.

[Neish]

A means to an end! Athlone's experience should not influence the decision making elsewhere.
.

So when exactly is the end?

Its been one stand in Athlone for just as long if not longer than the new Finn Park project has been mooted.

Has there or is there been any real movement to expand the venue?

[Nesta99]

So when exactly is the end?

Its been one stand in Athlone for just as long if not longer than the new Finn Park project has been mooted.

Has there or is there been any real movement to expand the venue?

Elsewhere, when the crowd spectator facilities are done, and a secondary completion when things like onsite/under stand gyms etc are completed. Athlone is not a comparative example for a number of reasons.

[Philosophizer]

Not a fan of the gantry position in Dalymount for tonight's match at all. Hope that's not going to be a permanent position until the new stand is built - it's far too low.
All grounds should just copy gantry position at Tolka. I've always thought it's perfect at Tolka.

[Shinkicker]

Not a fan of the gantry position in Dalymount for tonight's match at all. Hope that's not going to be a permanent position until the new stand is built - it's far too low.
All grounds should just copy gantry position at Tolka. I've always thought it's perfect at Tolka.
Totally agree with the positioning of the gantry at Dalymount tonight, terrible.

[ger121]

Posted in another thread how bad the camera angle was. I feel I was nearly sitting beside Long in the dugout.

[nr637]

Maybe when they look back at it again later, they will see the poor angle and realize they should be positioned higher. Hopefully someone with a bit of technical know how will be able to advise for the next game!

[ger121]

Maybe when they look back at it again later, they will see the poor angle and realize they should be positioned higher. Hopefully someone with a bit of technical know how will be able to advise for the next game!

Stuck with it till the end of the season, according to a tweet from the club.

[Philosophizer]

Stuck with it till the end of the season, according to a tweet from the club.
Yea the construction is going on so fair enough if it's just until the end of the season I suppose.
Hopefully they raise it much higher next season. The height of the gantry has a big impact on how the ground/match is perceived.

[nr637]

Stuck with it till the end of the season, according to a tweet from the club.

A small extra scaffolding would probably sort out the height, if they really wanted to improve the angle!

[Shinkicker]

A small extra scaffolding would probably sort out the height, if they really wanted to improve the angle!
The height wasn't too bad it's the off centre position. When demolition is beyond the halfway line just move the gantry up to the halfway line.
! Sometimes my world is very simple !

[Philosophizer]

The height wasn't too bad it's the off centre position. When demolition is beyond the halfway line just move the gantry up to the halfway line.
! Sometimes my world is very simple !
I thought the opposite. IMO the height is by far the most important factor.
Of course the camera should be on the halfway line, but I'm able to look past that at the moment with the construction works ongoing. Can't stand that low camera angle though. I wouldn't pay for that.

[bohsmug]

The height wasn't too bad it's the off centre position. When demolition is beyond the halfway line just move the gantry up to the halfway line.
! Sometimes my world is very simple !

I wonder is that really how it works with health and safety and all that. The demolition site may remain the same size until it's signed off possibly. I say that from a position of absolutely no knowledge.

[sbgawa]

They have built a pretty elaborate expensive looking structure an extra even middle section just housing a camera would have been easy enough.
Strange they didn't think of it

[Shinkicker]

I wonder is that really how it works with health and safety and all that. The demolition site may remain the same size until it's signed off possibly. I say that from a position of absolutely no knowledge.
You are most likely correct regarding H&S however a bit of forward thinking could have solved it, at one point Bohs weren't at home for 5 or six weeks

[Nesta99]

You are most likely correct regarding H&S however a bit of forward thinking could have solved it, at one point Bohs weren't at home for 5 or six weeks

Did RTE have any input...

[ger121]

Did RTE have any input...

Yeah they did, but they wanted to position the camera in Tallaght.

[sbgawa]

Yeah they did, but they wanted to position the camera in Tallaght.


Quality banter here :D

[SPXcyan]

That floored me, nice!