Stadium Updates (All Clubs)

[Nesta99]

It'll be barely a mile from their current spot but on a greenfield site on a newish road that will be off the M1 North side of town, closer to Dundalk, further away from Drogheda town centre and rail link but out of the congested and landlocked spot by the hospital. Not that far off one of their other planning applications except the site now would be serviced rather than the pervious effort telling LouthCoCo to pay up a few million é for such works or the club could leave the county, it was rumoured at the time that MeathCoCo offered to pay to keep them out of County Meath much to everyones disappointment. As per the current planning system in this country I may object to the new plans for no other reason than for the craic, and some good old fashioned Irish small minded begrudgery based on some spurious report on added need for cars to get to the new ground so contravenes the county and enviorns development plan 2021-27. Somewhere between Stameen and Laytown and anywhere further south makes much more sense and they could become Meath FC sorting that one out too, win win.

[Straightstory]

This is a great idea. And a great use of dead space by the club.

I know people like to poke fun at Bohs, but they are by a country mile the most innovative annd consistent in what they do and how they pitch their club. It has a very clear alternative/anti-establishment identity. No other LOI club comes even close to havng such a clear image or sense to portray of itself. Fair play to them.

You'd only think Bohs were anti-establishment if it was 1980 and the Catholic Church was still running everything. Bohs are a perfect example of the modern Woke Ireland; the club is very much representative of the established elites which now run the country.
I quite like the 'Non-Corporate Box idea.

[ger121]

Where is the Dundalk application for some moolah?

[Nesta99]

Icomplete and missed the deadline!!!!

[ger121]

Icomplete and missed the deadline!!!!

Not good. Thought you would have gotten something in.

[redobit]

Where is the Dundalk application for some moolah?

They asked other clubs who were making applications to help them with their application.

[Nesta99]

Indeed! Amateur group that lacked all the skillsets required eg Quantity Surveyor, to complete the application. It was a mammoth undertaking that fell short. Things like this imo need to go to specialists in grant applications. Not cheap but a lot less than missing out on grants. Iv year of experience in helping organisations fill in applications as part of an old job with LouthCoCo and ran training days and workshops for all sports across the county in how to fill these, whats needed, whats relevant, buzzwords etc. Id a bunch of old contacts that were specialists that helped out when people got bogged down. With this in mind I said it to Martin Conolly that id like to help, itd be totally voluntary, and if there are curve balls thrown I know people who can handle them. He wrote my name in hs dairy. He hadnt taken name of details at all as the page was untouced when he put the diary down. Id significant time to take off so i could have done it f/t for 7 or 8 minths. Twas fine, I assumed that there were others that could do the same job, until they adertised for a QS for help.

[Nesta99]

They asked other clubs who were making applications to help them with their application.

Id always have encouraged this, new ways and growth of ideas happened all the time when teaching others how to navigate the process. But if they were asking from the off for help with the non-technical sections then the committee has been put together poorly. Hard working people but you need more than elbow grease for these including an inside line on what SI or DoS are being picky on in a particulay grant year,

[redarmyfaction]

We look biggish with the bookies for the CD tonight, I have had as big as 3.65 on Betfair, mostly 9/4ish now across the board, both teams equal on points (albeit Galway have game in hand) and in good form the last few games, shared the spoils the two previous meets this season but the fact we are at home should make us favs, hard to know why some layers chalked up Galway 13/10 early doors.

[SeanDrog]

Indeed! Amature group that lacked all the skillsets required eg Quantity Surveyor, to complete the application. It was a mammoth undertaking that fell short. Things like this imo need to go to specialists in grant applications. Not cheap but a lot less than missing out on grants. Iv year of experience in helping organisations fill in applications as part of an old job with LouthCoCo and ran training days and workshops for all sports across the county in how to fill these, whats needed, whats relevant, buzzwords etc. Id a bunch of old contacts that were specialists that helped out when people got bogged down. With this in mind I said it to Martin Conolly that id like to help, itd be totally voluntary, and if there are curve balls thrown I know people who can handle them. He wrote my name in hs dairy. He hadnt taken name of details at all as the page was untouced when he put the diary down. Id significant time to take off so i could have done it f/t for 7 or 8 minths. Twas fine, I assumed that there were others that could od the same job, until the adertised for a QS for help.

You are dead right - this is a real specialist area - crazy he didn’t take you up on the offer. Consultants for this type of thing are pricey.

[redobit]

Id always have encouraged this, new ways and growth of ideas happened all the time when teaching others how to navigate the process. But if they were asking from the off for help with the technical sections then the committee has been put together poorly. Hard working people but you need more than elbow greece for these including an inside line on what SI or DoS are being picky on in a particulay grant year,

Yeah I wouldn't have a problem with LOI clubs giving each other advice. That said Im not sure how eager a club will be to help another club in the same LSSIF pot. The club giving advice will be working hard on their own submission plus it would be just silly to help your direct rivals when a small pot is up for grabs.

But yeah it does make sense for other LOI clubs to help eqch other. But more likely to happen when both clubs are not putting in applications in the same year. And as Nesta and others have pointed out, you need key consultants and experts in these type of Capital Works applications. They dont come cheap but it is an investment worth making and the outcomes can be game changing.

[brendy_éire]

Not that far off one of their other planning applications except the site now would be serviced rather than the pervious effort telling LouthCoCo to pay up a few million é for such works or the club could leave the county, it was rumoured at the time that MeathCoCo offered to pay to keep them out of County Meath much to everyones disappointment.

Meath offered them money not to move to Meath? Why?

[Nesta99]

Meath offered them money not to move to Meath? Why?

Yeah nobody wanted them, couldnt give them away, especially after demanding money from LouthCoCo for their greenfield site development mid 2000s, it was only a rumour. It is based on some truth from the time where there was a plan to extend the LouthCoCo boundary further south as the town was crossing 2 authorities and throw Drog Coporation in to the mix and and theres a bunch of job duplication. Meath didnt wnat to give up the rates income and building levies. Louth would have been ok in principle to the bounary being moved north to focus funding on the rest of the county but that would have been damn divisive so was never a runner. The status quo remains and no LouthCoCo are now allowing the town to develop north which had been resisted. I do think there were opportunities to get closer to public transport hubs than the current choice which isnt walkable from the railway station really and a good treck up the hill from the bus station, as close as possible to a town centre is also important imo as out of town can cause a disconnect. Better than playing in an old stadium but I think there were other options looking south of the Boyne if maintaining the 'Louth' address wasnt such a red line for the club - shouldnt matter for a town club what county it happens to sit in.

[redobit]

Anyone know how much each club is looking for?

Sligo Rovers are looking for 18.3m.

I think a even more important question might be ... how far advanced are clubs into the Project Deliverables? Are the Legals sorted (esp if you dont own the land). Is the statutory obligations in place, especially the Planning permission? Have Design Teams been procured and appointed?

Having a plan on paper is one thing but having all those key elements in place will surely influence how mony is distributed!? In other words give it to the clubs who are waiting for the nod to begin construction, rather than the more aspirational applications.

[Buckett]

Any sign of work being done on the Finn Harps stadium?

[Neish]

Meath offered them money not to move to Meath? Why?

It was rumored, highly doubt there is any truth in it. Like the rumor that was flying round Northwest a few season back that Philip O'Doherty was offering Finn Harps a hefty sum to help complete the new stadium project.

Just think if the Meath CO.CO really had offered millions so a project for a team in another council's area does not get built, how would that go down with the people of Meath

[Nesta99]

You are dead right - this is a real specialist area - crazy he didn’t take you up on the offer. Consultants for this type of thing are pricey.

I was available to Drogheda United way back in 2006-8 but Terry somthing or other (Collins?) said there was no need for Louth CoCo assistance with grant applications as they didnt need any grants, the sale of United Park was imminent and wth Euro money, + private investment the new ground (based on IK Starts stadium) was fully costed and covered. I was also told that unlike Dundalk there would be no artificial surface as Drogheda didnt need small amount of income or savings at that level. While walking out of UP after the stadium audit (called a wate of time as the new ground would be built by the following season). I was kindly, not at all in a petty manner, given an envelope with 2 complimentary tickets to Drogheda's next home game so that I "could see a real football club in action"!!

[2 Year Contract]

Little Brandywell update, work on the stand set to start in the next few weeks and is due to be completed early next year

https://www.derrycityfc.net/2024/08/...tadium-update/

[Nesta99]

Yeah nobody wanted them, couldnt give them away, especially after demanding money from LouthCoCo for their greenfield site development mid 2000s, it was only a rumour. It is based on some truth from the time where there was a plan to extend the LouthCoCo boundary further south as the town was crossing 2 authorities and throw Drog Coporation in to the mix and and theres a bunch of job duplication. Meath didnt wnat to give up the rates income and building levies. Louth would have been ok in principle to the bounary being moved north to focus funding on the rest of the county but that would have been damn divisive so was never a runner. The status quo remains and no LouthCoCo are now allowing the town to develop north which had been resisted. I do think there were opportunities to get closer to public transport hubs than the current choice which isnt walkable from the railway station really and a good treck up the hill from the bus station, as close as possible to a town centre is also important imo as out of town can cause a disconnect. Better than playing in an old stadium but I think there were other options looking south of the Boyne if maintaining the 'Louth' address wasnt such a red line for the club - shouldnt matter for a town club what county it happens to sit in.

I see there are plans for a Drogheda North railway station. That could be a real boost to the application for the chosen site - It would have to be a lot closer than the existing station!?

[brendy_éire]

I see there are plans for a Drogheda North railway station. That could be a real boost to the application for the chosen site - It would have to be a lot closer than the existing station!?

Though it's probably of limited use as you're unlikely to make the last train north or south after a match.