I don't think the pitch is properly looked after in the Brandywell. Took a walk on it after a Harps game last season and was shocked at the surface. It's really awful. Rock hard.
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I don't think the pitch is properly looked after in the Brandywell. Took a walk on it after a Harps game last season and was shocked at the surface. It's really awful. Rock hard.
If it is that poor remedial work will have to be done either before or after UEFA testing. One of the benefits of annual testing is that its shows whether a pitch is deteriorating or just isnt being maintained.
Forgive me for quoting my own post - and taking the thread away from new ground redevelopment etc (the nerd in me can't resist!) - but there's a new book out on the history of Windsor Park and the author's twitter page hasd a couple of great photo's of a Belfast Roof at Celtic Park (home of Belfast Celtic, which also staged greyhounds and trotting) and Solitude:Quote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FIK8YyOW...jpg&name=small
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FIK8Yx0X...jpg&name=small
Also one of the actual truss design, taken after a storm blew the cover off the Railway Stand (I assume) at Windsor:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FIK8CIAX...jpg&name=small
https://twitter.com/joecassells1?lang=en
The old stand in Richmond Park used to have one of those Belfast roofs as fa as I can remember. That stand was demolished and replaced in the early 90’s when Pats moved out for a couple of seasons.Quote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
Indeed - D24Saint referenced it in post #6705:Quote:
Originally Posted by TonyD
Click on:
https://www.irishphotoarchive.ie/gal...000mCGvJrfO5gk
These barrel rooves must have been everywhere for a while (i.e. not just Ireland, but GB as well), but lived on longer here as grounds weren't updated so frequently (if at all!).
I wonder how come they're called Belfast roofs? They look more agricultural than industrial. Very popular design for haysheds.
The structural trusses of a Belfast roof were first designed in Belfast hence the name and were to support large roofs that hadnt support from weight bearing walls on all sides so were suitable for stands in football grounds....and hay sheds. I think we associate them more with farm yard barns because they are more about still these days (different materials but seemed to keep the old curved roof) than the original industrial buildings of that design or the old football stands in Ireland and UK. The trusses were wooden, so cheap but able to carry the weight of the roof, and probably why there are so few public use buildings of that style or design left. When steel RSJs became the standard rather than wood joists, flat rooves needed less material so were then cheaper. Nerd stuff!!
Is this Solitude? I wouldn't recognise it at all. I presume this is facing where the stand currently is rather than being an image of the opposite side which is closed off - it doesn't look like there was ever anything in place there.Quote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
The stand in that photo looks better than the one that is currently there.
I must confess that I 'm not absolutely certain, now you mention it.Quote:
Originally Posted by JC_GUFC
It does look like the old Olympia Drive (North) Stand at Windsor, cigarette advertising and all except that I don't ever recall it having those support stanchions. Also you should probably be able to see the corner of the Railway Stand (behind the goal to the right of the pic), while those trees(?) behind, and the setting generally don't look anything like The Village.
And by a process of elimination, if it isn't Windsor, then I can't think what other Belfast ground it could be if not Solitude. Looking at Cliftonville's website page covering the History of Solitude, there is an old photo which indicates it may be the terraced stand on the Waterworks side i.e. opposite where the old Main Stand is now:
https://cliftonvillefc.net/wp-conten...68-768x443.jpg
https://cliftonvillefc.net/history-of-solitude/
P.S. With one of those teams playing in plain red shirts, aside from Cliftonville, only Portadown also wore that colour back in the day amongst the senior IL teams.
Fortwilliam church spire in the background of the colour photo?Quote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
Good call.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kingdom
Thinking some more, the only reason not to think it's Solitude is that there was a crowd in that day!
I may have missed it but what's up with the empty stand at the Drumcondra end of Tolka Park??
Ive heard two tales one was planning issues the other was foundation problems. Not sure what is the accurate version.Quote:
Originally Posted by Shinkicker
Heard it was fire damage myself. I'm sure there's a truth the lies somewhere between each.
Pretty sure someone on here said it was foundation issues…
I heard foundation issues myself, but how come the dressing rooms that are housed in that stand are allowed to be used then? Also noticed towards the end of the game between Pats and Shels in Tolka, when the tunnel is pulled out for the players (which blocks fans on the riverside from leaving the ground), they had to walk up into that stand and back down the steps the other side of the tunnel. Just strange that it’s in use in that way if it’s foundations are that dodgy, unless the issue is just to do with the stand supporting the weight of a stand full of people for a prolonged period of time
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract
This is the problem i believe , a couple of thousend fans jumping up and down celebrating a Shels home win .......wouldn't have been a problem this year :p
I don't know the technical ins and outs but on a basic level I've been told the stand can't hold 800-900 fans in the stand as there is a structural issue that could pose a risk with those numbers but the stand is cleared as safe for players/staff to use the dressing rooms and facilities underneath the stand. It's repairable but would cost a very hefty 6 figure sum so economical decision was taken to keep the stand closed to fans and continue to use it for dressing room facilities. The relatively small upgrades to the Ballybough end for away terracing and moving home supporters into the Riverside has been a winner so farQuote:
Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract
If the footings for the structure aren't good enough, then the wait of hundreds of people on top will be of significantly greater issue than the much smaller number at a lower level in the changing rooms.Quote:
Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract
I'm surprised it hasn't fallen foul to the hackneyed old rumour that is attached to numerous libraries all around the world (especially at universities). That they failed to include the weight of the books when they did the calculations for its load-bearing, so then couldn't build it as high as they'd originally planned after they started it. Maybe the Tolka stand didn't factor in the weight of the spectators on top ? :eek: Every 15 or so people will equal about a tonne of added weight (depending on how fat they are, age, gender etc)
Sometimes the old ways are the best:Quote:
Originally Posted by EatYerGreens
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okf5enMCQmc
I think I read somewhere that those were all WW1 veterans, called in because they knew basic drill.
And weren;t afraid to follo commands that potentially see them killed :DQuote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
Ha ha, very good! Though to be fair to their regard for Health & Safety in those days, they might have had an oul fella stationed out the back, checking to see any cracks opening up.Quote:
Originally Posted by EatYerGreens
And thinking some more about it, its more likely that those people in the video were actually workers building the stadium, many of whom were also WW1 veterans who therefore "knew the drill".
Meanwhile, here's what looks like another Belfast Roof, this time on the old Lourdes Stadium, one-time home of Drogheda:
https://media.balls.ie/uploads/2015/...05/lourdes.jpg
Though from googling, it seems this has since been demolished as the site was refurbished.
any chance Drogs could move back to Lourdes? Have they any plans for a new ground? United Park looks awful on telly
Where was Lourdes located GUFC as I was never in it ?Quote:
Originally Posted by GUFCghost
They could probably do with a trip to Lourdes :pQuote:
Originally Posted by GUFCghost
It's still there - across from the hospital. The council own it these days.Quote:
Originally Posted by Martinho II
The claim that Lourdes Stadium was 'regarded as one of the finest stadiums in the league' is mystifying. It was a complete dump - even worse than United 'Head In The Game' Park.
https://www.balls.ie/football/6-form...-in-use-300971
I didn't know until now that Parc Ui Rinn and Flower Lodge are the same place. I've never been to it but have read both names over the years without any idea of the connection.
Yeah - the GAA swooped in to buy Flower Lodge, which was a huge loss to football in Cork. None of the grounds used since (Bishopstown, Turners Cross) compared to Flower Lodge, or its potential.Quote:
Originally Posted by Longfordian
The real story of how Cork GAA bought Flower Lodge (irishexaminer.com)
Interesting that they thought the AOH wouldn't sell to the GAA. Never understood why Cork GAA have two decent grounds beside each other in such a large county.Quote:
Originally Posted by EatYerGreens
On another point, at Turners Cross, can people just watch the match from the outdoor area of the Horseshoe pub (or Corner Flag, as it is now)?
Yep. Not sure how good the view is though.Quote:
Originally Posted by brendy_éire
Big boost for Shels today. Tolka is to be kept for sporting use after DCC abandoned plans to rezone it.
I see St Pats were included in the statement , anybody hear anything about redevolping Richmond ? hard to see what could be done given location of ground
Yeah, I was surprised to hear about Richmond. Could easily fit 2 small roofed stands, 1 behind each goal. Maybe a bit like Inver Park in Larne if there's enough space for new dressing rooms. After that, not sure. The site is quite small and access is limited. The main stand always felt quite tight to me. It could look lovely with modest improvement, just not sure if it's feasible.
Certainly would seem to be limited scope for developing Richmond much, given the tight surroundings, especially the river on one side. Hard to see the inclusion of Richmond in the statement as much more than platitudes. The council had a chance to help Pats with the Richmond arena plan and weren’t willing to do so. If this means they will give some actual help as regards developing Richmond then it will be good news, but I remain sceptical.Quote:
Originally Posted by Glen Of Aherlow
Yeah struck me as being lip service from Keegan where Richmond is concerned , don't think Bohs will get their shiny new stadium either , probably a bit of an upgrade on what's there at Dalymount currentlyQuote:
Originally Posted by TonyD
Id be happy to see Tolka retained and with a bit of work both it and Dalymount could be made fit for use.Quote:
Originally Posted by Glen Of Aherlow
Knock down the two empty stands in Dalymount and put in covered Terace +Seating and you have 6k stadium.
Tolka knock down the empty stand and replace with covered Tce/Seats accross the width and you have 5.5k.
Not shiny new Stadiums but fit for purpose and deliverable.
Whomever wrote that was being sentimental for sure. It was a real headache of a place from being derelict, to fending off the grab all types looking for exclusive use of the site, to getting LCC to fund something functional - original proposal had 4 running lanes (not even an outer 4 lanes increasing the grass area) so unusable for competitive athletics and could only have been used for training, trying to be suitable for all but would have been damn all good to any, standard LCC trying to do capital sports projects on the cheap. It was hoped that DUFC would be amenable to taking it on in exchange for United Park which was a non runner for a all sorts of reasons. In the end at least a proper track was done.Quote:
Originally Posted by Straightstory
I am assuming that this is a commendable effort at serious urine extraction?Quote:
Originally Posted by sbgawa