Stadium Updates (All Clubs)

[Acornvilla]

In all fairness, I could point out parts of CCS in no better shape than some of the photos seen.
Here I'll do it for you..

https://m1.behance.net/rendition/modules/123486039/disp/92e293f5af0c7ec8d3a1649291c4e51c.jpg

https://m1.behance.net/rendition/modules/123486019/disp/178b289df6f2045bdccfcf25fc0feff9.jpg

http://barrymasterson.com/303784/3759932/photography/city-calling-stadium-desolate

Up behind the goals, and the away fans entrance are still pretty cat, but the rest of the ground is in brilliant nick compared to how it was even a year ago and I'd expect that a bit more work is going to be done over the close season. The main stands underbelly is now something to be pretty proud of, it used to be fairly horrendous. I've heard a lot of murmurings that our floodlights need replacing to get a premier license?

We'd all love even a cheap roof going all the way around at this stage because the weather destroys those areas if not maintained very carefully, but that's still going to cost way too much to be a runner any time soon.

I must say The CCS looked wonderful on Friday night, I can't see people who wouldn't have been there often, having seen/experienced much to turn them away.

[Longfordian]

The lights do need replacing but I don't think it's a mandatory Premier Licence condition, given the cost involved in replacing them. Don't think they're any worse than Drogs' or Bray's for example. We'd have to be grant aided if we were to replace them. I know it's in the club's plans though should funding become available.

[punkrocket]

Regular maintenance of grounds is key to keeping the costs of repairs and general avaidance of rot setting in down. A groundsman going around every few weeks making up a snag list can intercept a lot of future problems. Give him a few quid extra, it would pay for itself. I know getting the work done then is the challenge particularly with a lack of volunteers but doing little and often is a lot easier than what is facing any squad of helpers at Tolka.

[seand]

Uploaded some pictures from Dalymount.

2163

https://www.behance.net/gallery/20260031/Dalymount-Park

Great stuff, again.

[bluewhitearmy]

We put up with Jackman. The Market's Field can't be worse.

Jackman is hardly the standard we are gonna hold it up against is it?

Is it worse than Jackman no will it be much better than Jackman again no. Markets Field will be better than Thomond for me but that doesn't mean it will be good, Hogan with a bit of work done would definitely be a far better option imo.

[punkrocket]

Regarding the maintenance of grounds, is it not feasible to try to forge some links with local colleges who teach vocational subjects such as carpentry, welding painting and decorating etc skills which would come in handy to keep the grounds from falling into disrepair. Partnerships like this could work both ways benefitting both parties. It may even lead to a few extra punters coming through the gates.

[desaintsno.12]

How do Shelegated fans feel about the suggestion of the ground share in Dalymount ?
I presume its a case of it being your only viable long term option anyway, so its hard to whinge about it ??

[northwestexile]

Another positive development. Well done to everybody involved. Does anybody know what other developments are planned at the Showgrounds?

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish/2014/1010/651535-sean-fallon/

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Dermot Kelly told Ocean FM of some plans for the future if the success of the club continues and said if the town and county back the club they can be possible.

"We don't want to stop now. We'd like to develop some toilets under the Volkswagen Bank End and make the facilities the better for the supporters when they come out. We'd look at putting in dressing-rooms at that end to cater to the training pitches that will accommodate schoolboy games and junior games and under-17 games.

“The Volkswagen Bank was built with the point of putting a roof in on top of it at some point. We would like to see that happening. But again it depends on the pitch and financially that gives us the resources to do that.

“It has been brilliant that we have cleared a lot of historic and legacy debt and used the success to build a very solid platform that will allow our incoming manager to work with our underage coaches and the fantastic work by the Sligo-Leitrim youth league and Kennedy Cup teams to start bringing through crops of young players. We haven't wasted our success.

“There is a tangible, demonstrable improvement in the infrastructure. We'd like to develop at the near end as well - but that when it comes about is going to be a bigger project and one that we might have to put off to make sure we do it right when we get around to it.”

[red bellied]

Dermot Kelly told Ocean FM of some plans for the future if the success of the club continues and said if the town and county back the club they can be possible.

"We don't want to stop now. We'd like to develop some toilets under the Volkswagen Bank End and make the facilities the better for the supporters when they come out. We'd look at putting in dressing-rooms at that end to cater to the training pitches that will accommodate schoolboy games and junior games and under-17 games.

“The Volkswagen Bank was built with the point of putting a roof in on top of it at some point. We would like to see that happening. But again it depends on the pitch and financially that gives us the resources to do that.

“It has been brilliant that we have cleared a lot of historic and legacy debt and used the success to build a very solid platform that will allow our incoming manager to work with our underage coaches and the fantastic work by the Sligo-Leitrim youth league and Kennedy Cup teams to start bringing through crops of young players. We haven't wasted our success.

“There is a tangible, demonstrable improvement in the infrastructure. We'd like to develop at the near end as well - but that when it comes about is going to be a bigger project and one that we might have to put off to make sure we do it right when we get around to it.”

It featured on Rte news last night https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvt3zHfEMZo&list=UUUtKRTRziwNsDLIQLR7Zh0Q

[Nesta99]

The Showgrounds complex (its much more than a ground now) is to be envied and aspired to. I remember being in the Showgrounds as the main stand was being built, desperate First Division days, and while the main works were eventually done Sligo were struggling to fund the finishes like the installation of seats and fitting out toilets etc. On a considerable amount of their own steam, utilising bounty of a successful period and putting out a decent first team at the same time is fantastic - on a different scale but a bit Arsenal like. You have the likes of Fenlon calling for a leaggue summit, more useful the Sligo board should be asked to run some sort of workshop for other clubs and share their experiences and pitfalls for LoI ground development. With Dundalk very possibly having a piece of league success and Champions league revenues I hope we will see some tangible infrastructure improvements too!

[nigel-harps1954]

Come a long way from the days of the old shed on the now open end of the ground. Great to see. Would love to see a bit of a fix up done on the old stand there now and it'd be a fine ground. Maybe a wee terrace to finish off that end too.

[Nesta99]

Maybe a wee terrace to finish off that end too.

That was alluded to by Dermot Kelly, though the impression I got from his comments is that it is a once only chance to utilise that part of the ground ie that a proper fully thought plan of what needs to be built (in conjuntion with a stand/terrace) and that full funding etc would be there not to have a piecemeal effort just for the sake of it. Makes sense if you are running out of space and there is the possibility for building say office, medical, indoor training facilities et al. Again it seems to be part of a coherent strategy adopted by the Sligo board. Now all the have to do is make a decent managerial appointment and cut the love in with Accy Stanley!

[Mr A]

A piece on the Harps project from the Donegal News: http://www.finnharps.com/fhfc/?p=1156

A positive development would be if the sports capital programme was to receive more money in the budget, as mentioned in the Independent here: http://www.independent.ie/business/budget/budget-2015-revealed-1000-new-teachers-and-1pc-tax-cut-in-budget-30655482.html


A new sports capital programme worth at least €20m will be announced. Sports Minister Michael Ring lobbied for the programme this week.

[Longfordian]

Even just getting the main stand properly finished and getting in there would be a great start. There'll be a lot of clubs looking for funding I reckon, ourselves included. We've not really got a lot of it over the years in comparison to what we've spent ourselves.

[Mr A]

Longford's pro-Mayo stance in recent years may play well with the minister ;)

[Longfordian]

I knew there was a reason for that craic!

[Mr A]

29.1 million in sports capital grants on the way according to this: https://twitter.com/iresport/status/522031196344033281

[Acornvilla]

Finn Park, Hai..

http://barrymasterson.com/303784/4630327/photography/finn-park-finn-harps-fc

https://m1.behance.net/rendition/modules/137918303/hd/3398d616f08bea4471bb8084e2e435dc.jpg

[nigel-harps1954]

You love broken things. I have noticed this.

[Acornvilla]

You love broken things. I have noticed this.
Symptomatic of being a Town and LOI fan.

Maybe these photos will cheer you up? :D

https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10704116_649532108501059_3868626984469267032_n.jpg ?oh=0bdc69d81900e4787941fe09d21925b3&oe=54BFCEDF&__gda__=1422101351_61e7c2f466f244e736315353d63ed44 4

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.649531308501139.1073741838.597326180388319&type=1

[adamd164]

Turner's Cross named Pitch of the Year - http://www.corkcityfc.ie/home/2014/10/15/turners-cross-named-pitch-of-the-year/

[Charlie Darwin]

Another positive development. Well done to everybody involved. Does anybody know what other developments are planned at the Showgrounds?

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish/2014/1010/651535-sean-fallon/
That's a terrific development and laudable investment, and Sligo deserve any success that comes their way from it. Hopefully the coming years will see more clubs make similar investments. I assume the walls will be covered in anti-climbing paint, or is that only when Rovers come to town? :)

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

No. We bring it out for Drogheda as well.

[David BOHie]

Accrington Stanley? Who are they?

[gufcfan]

Exacccccchhhhhhhhhhtly.

[legendz]

Are Limerick playing their final league game in Thomond Park tomorrow? There was something about The Markets Field possibly being up to minimum criteria level for next season.

[bluewhitearmy]

Are Limerick playing their final league game in Thomond Park tomorrow? There was something about The Markets Field possibly being up to minimum criteria level for next season.

Talk from inside the club is yes but I think almost everyone I have spoken to are taking a we will believe it when we are in there watching a game. This is 3rd or 4th time this has all been spouted.

[Pablo Escobar]

I just spotted this and thought it was a nice feature:

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Cork,+Ireland&hl=en&ll=51.885535,-8.467935&spn=0.000053,0.066047&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=63.343847,135.263672&oq=cork&t=h&hnear=Cork,+County+Cork,+Ireland&z=15&layer=c&cbll=51.885535,-8.467935&panoid=MtLyKcrg0YpGxwHmd57IyA&cbp=12,99.82,,0,4.27

[ger121]

I just spotted this and thought it was a nice feature:

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Cork,+Ireland&hl=en&ll=51.885535,-8.467935&spn=0.000053,0.066047&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=63.343847,135.263672&oq=cork&t=h&hnear=Cork,+County+Cork,+Ireland&z=15&layer=c&cbll=51.885535,-8.467935&panoid=MtLyKcrg0YpGxwHmd57IyA&cbp=12,99.82,,0,4.27

It really is a fine stadium. Wish there was a few more like it.

[bennocelt]

Sligo have one as well, ha
http://360.io/q9AUd4



https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&msa=0&msid=105420420676712117456.00048109205142671aa36&ll=53.342251,-6.316452&spn=0.035871,0.072956&z=13&source=embed&dg=feature


Wonder how many teams have google views

[Mr A]

Pat O Sullivan has confirmed tonight that Limerick will play at Markets Field next year.

[legendz]

Pat O Sullivan has confirmed tonight that Limerick will play at Markets Field next year.

He gave a great speech at half-time in tonight's game. The rain was bad but it was at it's worst when he was on the pitch speaking to the crowd. From what I've seen he has a fair point. The club have made great efforts. It's at a stage where they need the support of the Limerick public.

[ger121]

This was posted over on our forum. One more and they'll have a full-house. (Figuratively speaking)

http://www.echo.ie/p_32/News_Article/a_1742/Council

[Charlie Darwin]

First I've heard of it, but obviously it's only a preliminary idea. Rovers wouldn't have any real use for it, but it would make the stadium a more attractive option for Leinster rugby games and the like and they'd probably only need a couple of those a year to make it financially worthwhile. Having another side of the stadium enclosed would condense it a bit more too and make it feel more like a proper stadium.

[El-Pietro]

is the North end the car park end? it really does need to be tighter

[Charlie Darwin]

No, the north end is the part that faces the main road, where the away fans' turnstile is.

[El-Pietro]

fair enough, which end would you say gets more wind? I've only been there 5 or 6 times over the last few years?

[Charlie Darwin]

I wouldn't have a clue, to be honest. It's so windy up here half the time you don't really pay attention to what direction it is.

[D24Saint]

Going to cost around 1.5m in total according to The Echo, the SDCC will put in 500k the article doesn't state where the rest will come from.

[Louth4sam]

Anyone who was in Oriel Park last Friday night for the League decider would have seen exactly some of the problems facing clubs.
Looks like Dundalk spent all their money on players because they had an outstanding squad but no facilities.
The way the away fans were treated was unpleasant to say the least.

Your right mate we should build up a **** load of debts like Cork and then walk away from them could probably afford a nice away section then.
Dundalk don't have an FA or county council to build them a nice stadium so things are going to take time. Hopefully a few seasons of relative success and European money can allow us to develop our inadequate facilities.

[El-Pietro]

Your right mate we should build up a **** load of debts like Cork and then walk away from them could probably afford a nice away section then.
Dundalk don't have an FA or county council to build them a nice stadium so things are going to take time. Hopefully a few seasons of relative success and European money can allow us to develop our inadequate facilities.

Been 30 years or so now since Oriel Park was updated....

edit: except for the pitch and the seats shoved into the away end and shed that don't really make much difference of course.

[White Horse]

Been 30 years or so now since Oriel Park was updated....

There was a lot of money spent in Oriel Park in the last 10 years. The club had to bring it up to a standard so that it could host Europa League qualifiers.

[El-Pietro]

Then why does it look like somethign out of the 70s?

[White Horse]

Then why does it look like somethign out of the 70s?

The stand and the terraces we constructed in the 60's and 70's. Until it is reconstructed, it will always look of that era.

[Guinney]

Been 30 years or so now since Oriel Park was updated....

edit: except for the pitch and the seats shoved into the away end and shed that don't really make much difference of course.

I fully agree that Oriel Park needs to be updated and the facilities in the away section are poor to say the least. As mentioned we don't have any nice local rugby teams, the FAI or county councils to help us redevelop. But at least it's ours.

That said there has been a number of updates over the past 30 years - you mentioned the pitch and new seats. The Shed side has completely changed. Behind the Carrick road goals has changed, new town end toilets. Club bars, offices and shop all redeveloped inside. Even the main stand got a facelift. Also the Youth Development Centre/Oriel Active behind the shed is now in place, even if the club doesn't own it.

Before:
http://www.dundalkfc.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Oriel-Park-From-The-Air.jpg
http://www.footballzz.co.uk/img/estadios/656/51656_ori_oriel_park.jpg
http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/europe/ireland/dundalk_oriel.jpg

[Guinney]

After:
http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/646/ydco.jpg
http://www.footballgroundguide.com/republic-of-ireland/dundalk/oriel-park-dundalk-main-stand.jpg
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-LiR2MYbDA-E/VErk6OaKRdI/AAAAAAAAaD4/IgnM-whbnG4/w691-h553-no/a1f268b9-5355-41ef-a485-9d1da3046d66

[Charlie Darwin]

I fully agree that Oriel Park needs to be updated and the facilities in the away section are poor to say the least. As mentioned we don't have any nice local rugby teams, the FAI or county councils to help us redevelop. But at least it's ours.
Eh, but it's Des Casey's, not DFC's?

This is classic foot.ie. We've had it all on this page alone, "at least we didn't walk away from our debts" "at least we own our ground" "we don't have X or Y to build us a free ground"

I anxiously await the meticulous analysis of attendances.

[pineapple stu]

Then why does it look like somethign out of the 70s?
Do you remember what it looked like in the late 90s?

There has been a lot of money spent on Oriel in the past few years. It looks a lot tidier now, but it's still a tip. Those two don't have to be mutually exclusive.

[White Horse]

Eh, but it's Des Casey's, not DFC's?

And thankfully so. There is nothing more dangerous to an LOI club than owning their own ground.