Stadium Updates (All Clubs)

**brendy_éire** · 05/04/2016, 7:48 PM

So Brandywell work to start in June, with the removal of the dog track.
Come July, or maybe slightly later, we'll be playing our games in Maginn Park, Buncrana.

The seats from the Lone Moor side of the Brandy will be installed in Maginn and left there after we leave as a gift.
Matches will be on Friday nights, and transport will be arranged from Derry.

The reason we couldn't use Riverside was that we couldn't get Friday nights and changing match dates would have created issues.

So it'll be six, or maybe slightly less, games in Buncrana, with 300 seats, on their original dates.
Capacity for Maginn hasn't been decided yet, but won't be huge. I reckon the limit of 300 seats could be problematic too.

On the plus side, it'll be nice to get a few trips to Buncrana and maybe we could even garner a few new fans.

**outspoken** · 05/04/2016, 9:29 PM

Originally Posted by brendy_éire

So Brandywell work to start in June, with the removal of the dog track.
Come July, or maybe slightly later, we'll be playing our games in Maginn Park, Buncrana.

The seats from the Lone Moor side of the Brandy will be installed in Maginn and left there after we leave as a gift.
Matches will be on Friday nights, and transport will be arranged from Derry.

The reason we couldn't use Riverside was that we couldn't get Friday nights and changing match dates would have created issues.

So it'll be six, or maybe slightly less, games in Buncrana, with 300 seats, on their original dates.
Capacity for Maginn hasn't been decided yet, but won't be huge. I reckon the limit of 300 seats could be problematic too.

On the plus side, it'll be nice to get a few trips to Buncrana and maybe we could even garner a few new fans.

Is there not a regulation stating a PD club must have 2000 seats or something along that line? Obviously this is only a temp thing but it's amazing how the FAI can just bend rules as and when it suits them. Roddy Collins is dead right, the whole running of the league is a shambles. And that's not a jab at Derry, it's great to see work going ahead on the Brandywell.

**brendy_éire** · 05/04/2016, 10:05 PM

Originally Posted by outspoken

Is there not a regulation stating a PD club must have 2000 seats or something along that line?

Thought it was 500. Ferrycarrig has 600 odd, IIRC. Still more than 300.
Take your point though, not great that rules are being disregarded. We could have used Riverside if we changed to Saturdays/Sundays. I know that would mean having to reach agreement with clubs involved, but still, it's not like Maginn was our only option (Finn Park was also mentioned).

**Mr A** · 06/04/2016, 8:51 AM

Originally Posted by brendy_éire

I know that would mean having to reach agreement with clubs involved, but still, it's not like Maginn was our only option (Finn Park was also mentioned).

Finn Park not an option due to outrageous dugout alignment.

I think the seats rule is 1500. No issue whatever allowing clubs to be under on temporary basis while work ongoing like with Derry.

Although I can understand Longford being bewildered as they made such efforts to comply and then the likes of us are let slide for long periods, albeit that has been largely beyond our control.

**outspoken** · 06/04/2016, 1:33 PM

Begs the question, would it be better in terms of attracting new teams of the ground regulations were relaxed or almost totally removed. I'm sure they are one of the biggest barriers stopping perhaps the likes of Tralee Dynamos or maybe even an FC Carlow/IT Carlow team of some sort for example entering the league. Would it not be better to get these teams in and then try to build something when we have a solid base of teams to work off?

**Charlie Darwin** · 06/04/2016, 1:37 PM

Originally Posted by outspoken

Begs the question, would it be better in terms of attracting new teams of the ground regulations were relaxed or almost totally removed. I'm sure they are one of the biggest barriers stopping perhaps the likes of Tralee Dynamos or maybe even an FC Carlow/IT Carlow team of some sort for example entering the league. Would it not be better to get these teams in and then try to build something when we have a solid base of teams to work off?

Some sort of 'A' Championship perhaps. It'll never happen.

**Dodge** · 06/04/2016, 2:35 PM

Originally Posted by outspoken

Begs the question, would it be better in terms of attracting new teams of the ground regulations were relaxed or almost totally removed. I'm sure they are one of the biggest barriers stopping perhaps the likes of Tralee Dynamos or maybe even an FC Carlow/IT Carlow team of some sort for example entering the league. Would it not be better to get these teams in and then try to build something when we have a solid base of teams to work off?

Build what though? Salthill were let in without a single seat. It's not mandatory in the first division

**outspoken** · 06/04/2016, 5:57 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Build what though? Salthill were let in without a single seat. It's not mandatory in the first division

Salthill had zero success or support tho. What if a team like Carlow were to come in and the local community got behind them? With fundraising and new sponsorship etc it's something they could work towards.

**Dodge** · 06/04/2016, 9:26 PM

Originally Posted by outspoken

Salthill had zero success or support tho. What if a team like Carlow were to come in and the local community got behind them? With fundraising and new sponsorship etc it's something they could work towards.

Sure, but my point was that having a **** ground wasn't a barrier to their entry so it's not one to Carlow or anyone else

**outspoken** · 06/04/2016, 10:48 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Sure, but my point was that having a **** ground wasn't a barrier to their entry so it's not one to Carlow or anyone else

As I said the FAI seem to implement these rules when it suits them to, be better off just scrapping them if they aren't going to be taken seriously.

**disgruntled** · 07/04/2016, 10:31 AM

Don't scrap the rules.
They are the standard that needs to be achieved.
However there is a need for flexibility within the rules in that clubs should be allowed time to achieve the standard required by the rules.

Things crop up from time to time such as ground ownership, leases etc which might prevent a club from bringing their ground up to the required standard.
Things like the lease at Oriel Park or Derry needing to move to a ground which may not meet the standards so that their own ground can be improved.
Clubs who's grounds do not meet the standards should be allowed into the League provided that there is clear evidence that their grounds can be brought up to standard over time given the availability of finance.

The League of Ireland is a balancing act.
There are times when leniency needs to be shown & there are times to use the big stick.

The truth is if the rules were to be applied rigidly right now to the League of Ireland then a good proportion of the clubs wouldn't make it & I don't think any of us would want that ?

**outspoken** · 07/04/2016, 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by disgruntled

Don't scrap the rules.
They are the standard that needs to be achieved.
However there is a need for flexibility within the rules in that clubs should be allowed time to achieve the standard required by the rules.

Things crop up from time to time such as ground ownership, leases etc which might prevent a club from bringing their ground up to the required standard.
Things like the lease at Oriel Park or Derry needing to move to a ground which may not meet the standards so that their own ground can be improved.
Clubs who's grounds do not meet the standards should be allowed into the League provided that there is clear evidence that their grounds can be brought up to standard over time given the availability of finance.

The League of Ireland is a balancing act.
There are times when leniency needs to be shown & there are times to use the big stick.

The truth is if the rules were to be applied rigidly right now to the League of Ireland then a good proportion of the clubs wouldn't make it & I don't think any of us would want that ?

Good post, agree with all of that.

**nigel-harps1954** · 07/04/2016, 10:37 AM

Does anyone really believe that facilities are what's keeping clubs from joining the League of Ireland?

**sadloserkid** · 07/04/2016, 10:53 AM

Weren't Carlow and Tralee both basically told not to bother proceeding with their interest in the aftermath of the A Championship dying? Proud moment for the league.

**nigel-harps1954** · 07/04/2016, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by sadloserkid

Weren't Carlow and Tralee both basically told not to bother proceeding with their interest in the aftermath of the A Championship dying? Proud moment for the league.

FC Carlow collapsed as an entity following the A Championship. It was poorly supported from the start and was always doomed from what I'm told by people here.

**ForzaHoop** · 07/04/2016, 12:50 PM

PHILIP O’DOHERTY, the Derry City chairman, says the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division club will play out their final fixtures of this season in Buncrana.
O’Doherty was speaking to Eric White of BBC Radio Foyle, where he said the club had ruled out the possibility of a move to the Riverside Stadium in Drumahoe – the home of Irish League club, Institute FC.
With a busy youth club on a Friday at the Waterside venue and Derry City preferring not to play Saturday fixtures, then it will be Maginn Park in Buncrana (main picture), which is a ground owned by the clubs of the Inishowen League.
Derry City will vacate the Brandywell Stadium for redevelopment works, although the exact time-frame is not known as yet, possibly their last six home games of the current campaign.
The Glentoran Stand has already been demolished and a new spectator stand is to be erected in its place on the Lonemoor Road side of the ground.
http://www.donegalsporthub.com/derry...park-buncrana/

**brendy_éire** · 07/04/2016, 1:03 PM

Originally Posted by ForzaHoop

Derry City will vacate the Brandywell Stadium for redevelopment works, although the exact time-frame is not known as yet, possibly their last six home games of the current campaign.

The last six games would be from August onwards. So the teams involved would be Pats, Cork, Galway, Shams, Bohs and Sligo.

Out of interest, would playing in Buncrana encourage or discourage away fans to attend? You'd be looking at an extra 10 minutes travel time from Sligo and Galway, 30 minutes for the others. Would the novelty of Buncrana help?

**nigel-harps1954** · 07/04/2016, 1:29 PM

Originally Posted by brendy_éire

The last six games would be from August onwards. So the teams involved would be Pats, Cork, Galway, Shams, Bohs and Sligo.

Out of interest, would playing in Buncrana encourage or discourage away fans to attend? You'd be looking at an extra 10 minutes travel time from Sligo and Galway, 30 minutes for the others. Would the novelty of Buncrana help?

It wouldn't add any huge travel onto those places though in fairness. You'd make Derry to Buncrana in 15 minutes handy enough for those coming from Dublin direction, only an extra 5-10 minutes for those form Sligo/Galway as you said.

I know for me, it's actually slightly disappointing Harps aren't one of the games in Maginn Park, would love to add in the novelty of a new ground to attend, and I'm sure that'll be the same for others potentially travelling.

**Nesta99** · 07/04/2016, 1:47 PM

I know Maginn Park is away from Ballybofey and that Stranorlar is started but couldnt the develpment of Maginn for Harps been something similar to the arrangement as Cork have with Turners Cross and been developed in conjunction with the local junior scene in Donegal?

**nigel-harps1954** · 07/04/2016, 2:00 PM

Originally Posted by Nesta99

I know Maginn Park is away from Ballybofey and that Stranorlar is started but couldnt the develpment of Maginn for Harps been something similar to the arrangement as Cork have with Turners Cross and been developed in conjunction with the local junior scene in Donegal?

Are you suggesting Harps could have moved to Buncrana? There's the same distance between the two as there is Dundalk to Monaghan. Besides, it was suggested before that Harps move to Letterkenny and it was quickly shot down as an option.

And if Harps moved away from the Finn Valley area, it would be a bit strange to continue calling the club Finn Harps, being no longer anywhere near the Finn river.