Stadium Updates (All Clubs)

[nigel-harps1954]

I know it would cost more but if the YDC was to go it would be great to flip the pitch. Would make the site a lot more accessible and support future growth and development. The main stand minus the uncovered sides would fit perfectly behind a goal and is steep so would actually give a good view of the pitch.
Done that way decent stands could be added to each side along with keeping the road access.

To be honest, I think they'd be better off extending the main stand out either side to the ends of the pitch. Would make for the finest stand in the league.

[Nesta99]

Cant find the architects projection anywhere but the YDC was originally a bit more spaceagey rather than a warehouse. Bit dejavu Nigel, I agree that to finish the wings to the main stand would be my preference. The stand as it is was part 1 of 3 that never got finished due to the builder going bang. Whether the construction of the stand pushed the builder out of business with slow payment or that parts 2 and 3 didnt happen due to the builder going bust I dont really know. As it is i'd love to see 2 wings to the main stand. The Shed covering extended the full length. Then a Stand behind the Town goal. Anything would need to be well planned through so ye dont end up spending on something, like a covering on the away section, only to have it demolished again. The pitch was perpendicular to the Carrick Road before the stand was built.

Beyond getting the lease sorted and looking for planning for further development of Oriel one of the obstacles will be the traffic impact study for the Carrick Rd on match nights. So either there is a carpark as part of plans or a link Road between the Ardee Rd and the Carrick Rd that reduces congestion. Otherwise I can see any ground 'expansion' having a few more hoops to jump through (pardon the pun) before Oriel gets a proper makeover!

[toffeejay]

Brandywell update - Glentoran stand being taken down today, should be finished by next week.

https://www.facebook.com/derrycityfc

[Louth4sam]

There was a architects projection done and released that is very different than the reality.

Aye. The original plan had proper media rooms, classrooms and a host of other stuff. It was scaled back by 60% as far as I remember.

[brendy_éire]

So we're going to ask Harps if we can play in Ballybofey.
Ridiculous stuff. http://derryjournal.com/news/derry-city-ground-share-with-rivals-finn-harps-a-possibility-says-city-chairman-1-6994656

[MattB11]

Would Institutes ground or Celtic park not make much more sense

[El-Pietro]

Would Institutes ground or Celtic park not make much more sense

Institute was my first thought but perhaps that might not go down well?

[Paddyfield]

Would Institutes ground or Celtic park not make much more sense

Institute. What a brilliant name for a football club.

[seand]

Celtic Park would be the obvious choice in a parallel universe where bigotry was not enshrined in the constitution of the GAA

[nigel-harps1954]

What's funniest about the whole thing is Derrys chairman discussing this plan without anyone in Finn Park being consulted first.

Can't imagine Harps letting this go ahead already with senior team, 17s and 19s making a great job of the pitch.

[Paddyfield]

Bigotry in GAA is long gone.

Galway United played European games in 2 different GAA grounds in the early 1990's.

A charity game was played in Terryland between Galway Gaelic team and Galway United. The first half was soccer and the second half was Gaelic.

Players from the winning Galway All Ireland hurling minor team were guest of honour at a recent Galway United game and received a standing ovation.

[nigel-harps1954]

Wish the same for the rest of the country so because obviously Galway is the exception.

[PartySaint]

What's funniest about the whole thing is Derrys chairman discussing this plan without anyone in Finn Park being consulted first.

Can't imagine Harps letting this go ahead already with senior team, 17s and 19s making a great job of the pitch.

If Harps could manage to make a bit of money from it I'm sure they'd let Derry play a few games across the border

[Real ale Madrid]

Bigotry in GAA is long gone.

Galway United played European games in 2 different GAA grounds in the early 1990's.



Where? I remember them playing Groningen in Carraroe in 86 but wasn't that a community field so they didn't need GAA permission ?

[brendy_éire]

Assuming Celtic Park is not available, Riverside is the obvious choice. 10 minutes across town, compared to 45 minutes half way down Donegal.
Riverside seats 1,500 odd, with probably room for another 1,000 standing. More than enough going by current attendances.

[nigel-harps1954]

If Harps could manage to make a bit of money from it I'm sure they'd let Derry play a few games across the border

The amount of money Harps would make from any such deal would be minimal and end up going towards pitch improvements, which at the start of each season already requires a huge amount of work.

Highly unlikely to happen I'd guess.

[El-Pietro]

Assuming Celtic Park is not available, Riverside is the obvious choice. 10 minutes across town, compared to 45 minutes half way down Donegal.
Riverside seats 1,500 odd, with probably room for another 1,000 standing. More than enough going by current attendances.
Nice little ground too.

[Sam_Heggy]

Bigotry in GAA is long gone.

Galway United played European games in 2 different GAA grounds in the early 1990's.

A charity game was played in Terryland between Galway Gaelic team and Galway United. The first half was soccer and the second half was Gaelic.

Players from the winning Galway All Ireland hurling minor team were guest of honour at a recent Galway United game and received a standing ovation.

Kevin McHugh had a game of Harps select v Donegal All Ireland winning side. The Donegal lads were told in no uncertain terms not to play. Luckily there was enough of them with the balls to go against the wishes of the Gah to play the game.

Anyway, I'd say there isn't a chance of this happening and after waiting so long on the money to redevelop the Randywell, I'd guess this is something to draw more attention to the fact that there is work ongoing. If there were any basis behind it, I'm sure someone from Finn Harps would have been consulted before it went public....

[PartySaint]

The amount of money Harps would make from any such deal would be minimal and end up going towards pitch improvements, which at the start of each season already requires a huge amount of work.

Highly unlikely to happen I'd guess.

There's a decent chance that Harps and Derry will end up in the same division next season, if they can just get the FAI to organise Derry's first 3 games to be against Harps everyone's a winner.

[mcgonigle]

Anyway, I'd say there isn't a chance of this happening and after waiting so long on the money to redevelop the Randywell, I'd guess this is something to draw more attention to the fact that there is work ongoing. If there were any basis behind it, I'm sure someone from Finn Harps would have been consulted before it went public....

Sure Harps will be in their new ground by then so it'll be grand!!

[seand]

Bigotry in GAA is long gone.

Galway United played European games in 2 different GAA grounds in the early 1990's.

A charity game was played in Terryland between Galway Gaelic team and Galway United. The first half was soccer and the second half was Gaelic.

Players from the winning Galway All Ireland hurling minor team were guest of honour at a recent Galway United game and received a standing ovation.

I said bigotry is enshrined in the GAA because it is in the rules of the association that no club or county board is permitted to allow soccer/rugby on their grounds. I'd say 'foreign games' but the gah seem to be ok with american football, boxing, special olympics etc putting money into the coffers.

In Europe Galway played Groninigen at a communal sports ground in Carraroe that happened to also be used by the GAA. If it was a GAA ground they would not have been allowed. The GAA refused permission to use Pearse Park, incidentally. The Odense game in 91 was Ballaghdereen, which was a bit of an anomaly in that the ground wasn't registered with the GAA, so the club went ahead and rented it to GUFC. The GAA were not impressed.

Certainly the bigotry is weakening, partly from a new more pragmatic generation fighting a rearguard action against soccer, but it's still enshrined in the GAA constitution.

When was that charity game played as a matter of interest? Dundalk hosted more than one local GAA club for training on the 'plastic' pitch during the big freeze in 2010-11.

[punkrocket]

If Derry were to play the first few league games away then the Irish League season would be over anyway by the time they needed to get another ground sorted so in theory wouldn't really be ground sharing with Institute at all. It's not the first time Derry've gone east of the Foyle having been forced to play their matches in Coleraine in the seventies when other clubs refused to go to Brandywell.

[seand]

While we're on the subject of bigotry I'd imagine the IFA might not be too impressed but can't see them being as difficult as the GAA.

[Mr A]

Derry are members of the IFA so it wouldn't be an issue from that perspective.

[SeanDMRooney]

Still accurate drawings ? http://m.derryjournal.com/news/first-pictures-reveal-new-look-brandywell-1-6163519

[Martinho II]

What is Riverside in Derry used for? never heard of it before!

[Mr A]

The Riverside is Institute's ground.

[Dunny]

Grim times for Derry fans having to play home games in another ground.If it's Finn Park it would be a disaster for the them imo!
Don't know if i'm over Dundalks 2005 season yet ? Awful depressing times :(


http://www.dundalkfc.com/the-ghost-of-gortakeegan-revisited/

[Nesta99]

What is Riverside in Derry used for? never heard of it before!

Riverside - the same as Bogside except different...

[D24Saint]

Still accurate drawings ? http://m.derryjournal.com/news/first-pictures-reveal-new-look-brandywell-1-6163519

Was hoping for some redevelopment of the current curved stand it makes for an awful view of the game for away fans, the other stand will look great when done.

[ForzaHoop]

Was hoping for some news on Harps ground update, serious progression early in the year but completely stopped now
and not looking like it will be anywhere near ready for next season

[Mr A]

If it were ready for 2017 I would be delighted. It seems it has been a bureaucratic nightmare every step of the way.

[SeanDMRooney]

Was hoping for some redevelopment of the current curved stand it makes for an awful view of the game for away fans, the other stand will look great when done.

Presumably ultimately long after we are dead and gone the curves will be demolished and they might put ends on it to enclose the whole thing

[Nesta99]

Similar to Croke Park then.

[nigel-harps1954]

Was hoping for some redevelopment of the current curved stand it makes for an awful view of the game for away fans, the other stand will look great when done.

As much as I hate to say it, the curved ends will actually be fantastic once they get the pitch in tight to the stand and rid of the dog track. If the ends of the stand curve in around the corners of the pitch it could work out brilliant for away fans.

[Longfordian]

If it were ready for 2017 I would be delighted. It seems it has been a bureaucratic nightmare every step of the way.

I was trying to think the other day (a dangerous idea at the best of times) how long has it been since Harps first announced their stadium plans and what was the original completion date?

[nigel-harps1954]

I was trying to think the other day (a dangerous idea at the best of times) how long has it been since Harps first announced their stadium plans and what was the original completion date?

Planning permission was granted in 2007. Broke ground a year later.

[Longfordian]

Cheers nigel. I had thought it was even earlier than that for some reason.

[toffeejay]

As much as I hate to say it, the curved ends will actually be fantastic once they get the pitch in tight to the stand and rid of the dog track. If the ends of the stand curve in around the corners of the pitch it could work out brilliant for away fans.

Hope the pitch is moving in as you say, but even so would they not be able to knock down the curved ends in front of the flood lights? Then stands could go up behind the goals eventually.

[gufcfan]

Galway United played European games in 2 different GAA grounds in the early 1990's.


I am not arguing with you about your general point, but the pitch they played Groningen on was a pitch that the GAA were allowed to use and did not belong to them.

[Mr A]

Good news for Athlone Town: http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/sport/roundup/articles/2015/10/08/4107178-/


Athlone Town FC is the largest beneficiary, with €200,000 allocated in grants for what is believed to be a project to develop an astro turf facility. - See more at: http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/sport/roundup/articles/2015/10/08/4107178-/#sthash.6BvhLSK5.4mkazB4s.dpuf

[Longfordian]

So LTFC applied and got €0. Must have been a hell of an application.

[Mr A]

From this- http://www.dttas.ie/sites/default/files/publications/sport/english/scp-allocations-2015/non-local-allocations.pdf

Salthill Devon got 200k also, Wexford Youths 19k and St Pats 15,500. Meanwhile this may relate to Drogheda: The Football Association of Ireland (Louth) €60,000

Edit: Missed this- Munster Football Club Ltd Limerick FC €200,000

[jinxy lilywhite]

ardee celtic got 15k, albion rovers (local Drogheda side got something too) don't know the rest.

you'd swear there was an election coming along also.

the lease situation is really hurting us

[nigel-harps1954]

From this- http://www.dttas.ie/sites/default/files/publications/sport/english/scp-allocations-2015/non-local-allocations.pdf

Salthill Devon got 200k also, Wexford Youths 19k and St Pats 15,500. Meanwhile this may relate to Drogheda: The Football Association of Ireland (Louth) €60,000

Edit: Missed this- Munster Football Club Ltd Limerick FC €200,000


You'd wonder what Limerick have got 200k for? Assume it's for their training complex?

19k at Wexford may be used towards upgrades for Premier Licence.

Good news all round if clubs are applying for these upgrades and improving their facilities.

[SeanDMRooney]

No going back now they better hope the development comes through after demolishing the stand http://foot.ie/attachment.php?attachmentid=2330&stc=1

[disgruntled]

ardee celtic got 15k, albion rovers (local Drogheda side got something too) don't know the rest.

you'd swear there was an election coming along also.

the lease situation is really hurting us

Absolutely agree.
This must be sorted quickly for Dundalk’s sake. It’s important for the club to build on the on field success.
Has dragged on far too long.
Any news of a solution or is going to be another steps of the courthouse job?

[jinxy lilywhite]

Going to mediation AFAIK.
Should be happening when the season ends

[thischarmingman]

Brandywell redevelopment could prove ‘disastrous’ for Derry City - claims Chairman


DERRY CITY Football Club chairman, Mr Philip O’Doherty has warned against further delays to the Brandywell refurbishment project which could prove ‘disastrous’.

The Brandywell club claim the tender process can’t begin ‘due to continued consultation on the project.’
http://www.derryjournal.com/news/brandywell-redevelopment-could-prove-disastrous-for-derry-city-claims-chairman-1-7017782

[Mr A]

Again he mentions playing in Ballybofey. Clearly just a scare tactic, but he could do FHFC the courtesy of a letter or email on the topic if he's going to keep mentioning it.