Salthill Devon FC

**London-Irish** · 16/02/2010, 11:01 AM

Well I see they got their licence so they are in the League then. Any news on where they are going to play home games? It has all gone very quiet. There is absolutely nothing on the club's web site which doesn't seem to have been updated for ages despite it being the most exciting time in the club's history.

**gufc2000** · 16/02/2010, 11:45 AM

They said a few weeks ago they will be playing in Drom. Its posted in another thread here

**gufc2000** · 16/02/2010, 11:48 AM

Devon set to accept League of Ireland spot

January 19, 2010 - 8:45am
Drom to host games
[COLOR=#417394]http://www.galwaynews.ie/10749-devon...e-ireland-spot[/COLOR]

DROM Soccer Park looks set o host League of Ireland football next season after Salthill Devon convened last night to ratify a proposal to proceed with their application to join the ranks of the First Division.

Devon would become the third club from Galway to be competing in the League of Ireland, giving the county the same representation as the entire province of Munster.
The Salthill outfit was deemed to have won promotion from the Newstalk A Championship when Kildare County was unable to play in the promotion/relegation playoff last November, and are now set to join Galway United and Mervue United in the country’s top two tiers.

Club Chairman Tony Johnstone told Sentinel Sport that the decision to proceed with the application was made following careful consideration of all relevant factors and an extensive cost-benefit analysis.
“After extensive research and some serious soul-searching we have concluded that the decision to apply for League of Ireland status is feasible and is very definitely what we want to do,” he said. “It has always been out desire to compete at the very highest level possible.”

The FAI have inspected Devon’s facilities at Drom and provided the club with a report outlining a number of small infrastructural changes necessary in order to comply with the organisation’s rules, although these are understood to be minor.
“There are still some things to be done arising from the report but we have been given a fair time frame and none are so sizable that they can’t be overcome,” explained Mr Johnstone.

There had been some speculation that Salthill Devon would approach the Galway and District League with a view to renting Terryland Park for ‘home’ games next season as Mervue United did last year. The Chairman dispelled this idea however, and said that this had never been a consideration.
“Renting another ground was never seen as an option for the club,” he said. “We take great pride in our facilities, and it is part of our fundamental philosophy that the first team should be on display there for the kids to aspire to and for our supporters to enjoy.”

The step up to the League of Ireland can involve a degree of financial risk and city counterparts Mervue United are rumoured to have incurred a loss of up to €70,000 during their inaugural season in the First Division. However, Mr Johnstone was confident of securing support for the proposal at the meeting at the Galway Bay Hotel last night.

“We are anticipating support but we are not taking it for granted,” he said. “People will be invited to voice their ideas and everything will be taken on board.”

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You started the last thread too!

**Gaillimh Al** · 16/02/2010, 6:08 PM

Salthill Devon are playing their home games in Drom, on Saturday nights....they are rumoured to be playing Athlone at home on the first weekend.

**WoodquayBoy** · 16/02/2010, 10:39 PM

Yeah, in Sentinel today, playing Athlone at home on the Saturday in Drom

**London-Irish** · 17/02/2010, 1:53 PM

Yes I did start both threads as it is an interesting topic. But apart from that local newspaper article nearly a month ago, there has been no publicity for Salthill joining the league. Their website hasn't been updated for months. I wonder, for example, what sort of spectator facilities they will have in place and what crowds they are expecting?

**Scrufil** · 17/02/2010, 1:59 PM

Well I hope they don't follow the example of Sporting Fingal and bring in FAI bibs to monitor the gates. The ones in Fingal are the most unfriendly and unhelpful bunch of eijets I've ever come across.

**Terry** · 17/02/2010, 2:31 PM

doubt it, salthill don't like to waste money. The stewarts at the match will surely be all devon based people and will out number the home support by 2 to 1 !!!!!!!