EGM followed by Public Info meeting Wed 24th Aug

**Sam_Heggy** · 17/08/2011, 5:29 PM

EGM at 7.30pm in Jacksons Hotel Ballybofey

Public Information Meeting directly after EGM at 8.30pm in Jacksons.

There should be more info on the stadium's progression and obviously then the big one. We've got fook all money.

**Mr A** · 18/08/2011, 9:57 AM

More than ever before we stand on the brink of oblivion and the threshold of greatness at the same time!

**harpstilidie** · 18/08/2011, 10:54 AM

Should we be worried or not? Never enjoyed previous public meetings, always the bearer of bad news!

**Mr A** · 18/08/2011, 12:54 PM

Hard to say really, especially until the meeting happens and the situation is outlined. The club has been caught in a bit of a perfect storm. Carrying large debts into a recession which means the commercial sector is decimated, bad results on the pitch for the last few years, lots of fans emigrating or even getting disillusioned, prize money cut, even the club lotto has been won more regularly than I ever remember.

On the other hand the stadium project and the various community projects show the importance and potential of the club.

We'll have to pull together one more time, but we can get through this and come out the other side far stronger than ever before.

**Neish** · 23/08/2011, 7:18 PM

Got as txt earlier today saying the E.G.M. was at 7pm, the txt last week said 7:30pm which one is it?

**cheifo** · 24/08/2011, 9:23 AM

The EGM will def begin at 7.30 with open meeting to be held at 8.30

**Mr A** · 24/08/2011, 12:23 PM

A bit of background: http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/...cuts_1_2990088

Basically it will boil down to more people shouldering a bit of the load and building towards and point where we'll have a healthy club in a superb facility. Currently the workload and pressure falls on relatively few people which simply isn't sustainable.

**harpstilidie** · 24/08/2011, 9:26 PM

Any news?

**Neish** · 25/08/2011, 10:33 AM

main news was
Satdium

Men to be on site in next week or two to start drainage works(the builder had a couple of school projects that he needed to finish up before sept. this is why only starting now)
Works to start on foundations end of the year or early next year and shell of a stadium will start to take shape from mid spring 2012
then it will be a the stage of applying for next draw down of money which should not be to much trouble provided the club cans keep the club accounts in order

Other news

Club have launched a draw with ticket priced at €10 each and 1st prize of €5000 cash(and 9 other prizes) The club really need this to be a sucess and want to be making at least €30000 from it so they urge all fan to sell as as many tickets as they can. Contact the club and they can send you tickets to sell

This draw is vital for the clubs survival so please urge all fans to sell as many tickets as possible. Contact the Club on 074 9130070 to get tickets

**Big Chief** · 26/08/2011, 10:08 AM

It was a useful meeting I felt as it kept everyone well appraised of developments on the stadium front. The new stadium will be wonderful to see, albeit it will present a challenge in terms of putting a team on the field of sufficient quality to retain the interest of the crowds who will probably turn up for the first couple of home games after it is built.

It's a sign perhaps of how far things have fallen that there were so few members of the public turned up for the second meeting. I was somewhat surprised by Felix Healy's pronouncement that there are loads of "exceptional" young players in Donegal. With the best will in the world I think he is overselling it just a bit. Of all the young players we have had to play during the post-Hegarty era Stephen McLaughlin is the only on I felt could cut it cross-channel whilst Sean Houston and Aaron McIlwee both showed plenty of promise. The rest are much of a muchness in my opinion.

**Sam_Heggy** · 26/08/2011, 2:08 PM

Felix doesn't mean the 1st team selection, he means coming through at underage level in the county. The Under 19's side are going to be very strong provided we get all the players targeted (one of the guys who was due to come in has just signed for Man United). 3 of the lads just signed have been over in England on trials with various clubs over the past year.
The Donegal Schools sides have won 2 of the past 3 Foyle Cup competitions at Under 16 level. The next 2 groups coming through are arguably better again.
The Donegal 93's (Foy, Merritt, Redmond, Rodden, etc) were unluckily beaten in the Semi final of the Milk cup last yer by Aspire. The Donegal side actually beat Spurs in the Quarter finals.

The future is bright for Donegal footballers but its a HUGE step up from schoolboy football to senior football and it will take 3 to 4 years before the 1st team can really bear any sort of success from the batch coming through.

We also have to acknowledge the draw of playing inter-county bogball, we have lot some outstanding players in the past to this and will continue to do so in the future.

**cheifo** · 26/08/2011, 5:16 PM

[QUOTE=Big Chief;1524304]It was a useful meeting I felt as it kept everyone well appraised of developments on the stadium front. The new stadium will be wonderful to see, albeit it will present a challenge in terms of putting a team on the field of sufficient quality to retain the interest of the crowds who will probably turn up for the first couple of home games after it is built.

It will as you say present a challenge but one that must be planned and executed correctly. A poorly attended Stadium is pointless. By then Finn Harps have to field a Team that is competitive and can draw in substantial numbers. It can be achieved however if the Team is right and the project is supported by clever on the ground promotion.