LFC to retrun to Hogan Park

**Partizan** · 06/01/2005, 1:33 PM

The issue of Paddy Purcell remains to be seen, but I will say Purcell will stay for another season at the Blues and then hop back to Limerick.

Limerick will just miss out on promotion next season as they are in the process of rebuilding the Club from the ineptness of the previous incumbants. It will take at least two years to assemble a decent enough squad and coaching staff as well as putting structures in place to ensure Limerick's stability and make a real push for promotion.

Waterford are more or less an established mid table Premier Division Club who just lost the Cup Final, as well as being financially secure while Limerick finished bottom of the First and are only now after years in the doldrums finally beginning to put their house in order and will remain in the First for a couple of years although with a good vision for the future.

Given these circumstances Purcell will stay for another year with us. Then again, the lure of his hometown may be too irresistable. We have already lost Ben Whelehan to Dublin City.

**Buller** · 06/01/2005, 2:54 PM

thats a gud point. itll take time 2 rebuild a club like them who have been in de "doldrums" for years...

**LFC in Exile** · 06/01/2005, 3:13 PM

I am not so sure. The first division is a strange league. There really is very little to choose between all of the teams. If Limerick could get four to five new players (decent ones) they will challenge this year. It will of course take a few years (more than two) to create real stability but promotion from the first requires good players and a bit of luck - why not.

**paudie** · 07/01/2005, 8:57 AM

Lads you're certainly making difficult for me.

Over the last 3 years I've been to Jackman Park and Pike Rovers SG in my attempt to visit as many EL club's grounds as possible.

Now due to your constant groundhopping I'll have to make another trip to Limerick next season

Seriously though best of luck next season and I hope this is the start of something big for Limerick.

By the way who owns Hogan Park now?

**LFC in Exile** · 07/01/2005, 9:20 AM

Originally Posted by paudie

Lads you're certainly making difficult for me.

Over the last 3 years I've been to Jackman Park and Pike Rovers SG in my attempt to visit as many EL club's grounds as possible.

Now due to your constant groundhopping I'll have to make another trip to Limerick next season

Seriously though best of luck next season and I hope this is the start of something big for Limerick.

By the way who owns Hogan Park now?

You can join the select and elite group who have been to every eL ground in Limerick.

**gael353** · 07/01/2005, 5:36 PM

From what i head the other night anyway the ground has been leased for 100 years from Peter Hogan and i imagine Danny Drews name is on the lease.

**4tothefloor** · 07/01/2005, 8:02 PM

Peter Hogan will be doing well if he can still remember his own name in 100 years time, so we can claim squatters rights by then

**gael353** · 08/01/2005, 2:23 PM

Hill Celtic are returning to THEIR ground as we have returned to OUR one. They've been well looked after.

**LFC in Exile** · 08/01/2005, 2:52 PM

Originally Posted by poacher

where does hill celtic go now does anybody know since they played there football out of there for the last few years

Was it the mention of squatters that put that thought into your head?

They must have had a ground before they took up residence in Rathbane - I presume they are gone back there.

**gael353** · 09/01/2005, 1:25 PM

work has started. The JCB'S are in since last week clearing the place, prepairing the ground work for the new structures. painters are going to paint the place and all the old seats have been ripped out. The entrance is not pretty. A lot of the old houses around there are boarded up and the road in is vary,,,, i dunno. The outside of the ground looks very run down but shur why wouldnt it the last time it was looked after was when it was built in 1983. Ill get some pics tomorrow. The "mound" behind the cork rd end is being taken away but the area behind the dug outs is huge. The workers are all right to talk to but id say avoid visiting for a week or two at least.

**paudie** · 10/01/2005, 12:34 PM

Originally Posted by LFC in Exile

You can join the select and elite group who have been to every eL ground in Limerick.

Never made it to the Market's Field I'm afraid.

**S�C** · 10/01/2005, 11:38 PM

Excuse my lack of memeory of which ground is which;

Jackman Park is the one at the round about by the new bypass next to the swimming pool?

Hogan Park is the one by the train station?

Market Fields, Grey Hound track?

Pike Rovers I know.

**gspain** · 11/01/2005, 7:10 AM

Originally Posted by S�C

Excuse my lack of memeory of which ground is which;

Jackman Park is the one at the round about by the new bypass next to the swimming pool?

Hogan Park is the one by the train station?

Market Fields, Grey Hound track?

Pike Rovers I know.

Jackman Park is the one by the Railway Station

Hogan Park/Rathbane is the one on the bypass.

The Markets Field is the Greyhound stadium.

**LFC Blue** · 11/01/2005, 9:00 AM

[QUOTE=gael353]work has started. The JCB'S are in since last week clearing the place, prepairing the ground work for the new structures. painters are going to paint the place and all the old seats have been ripped out. The entrance is not pretty. A lot of the old houses around there are boarded up and the road in is vary,,,, i dunno. The outside of the ground looks very run down but shur why wouldnt it the last time it was looked after was when it was built in 1983. Ill get some pics tomorrow. The "mound" behind the cork rd end is being taken away but the area behind the dug outs is huge. The workers are all right to talk to but id say avoid visiting for a week or two at least.

Did you get them pics yet Gael??

**gael353** · 11/01/2005, 3:43 PM

indeed i did but im not going to put them up untill i get some more. The ones i have show the shear enormity of me, sorry the place

its massive. Problem is its very very muddy up there at the mo and its mainly a clearing up thing thats being done. Next week the real work starts, i belive the 600 seats arrived last night, and whisper it softly but judging on the work thats being done right now that there will be a stand built in the comming season at the opposite end to the existing shed. Also that swimming pool looks ripe for a ball and chain

if ye get my drift. Hill Celtic will be moving into the back pitch so i was told. But lads the place is bloody massive. And as one fellow fan said to me yesterday 'its all very exciting'.

**LFC Blue** · 14/01/2005, 8:18 AM

Well Gael any more info on the developement of STADIUM RATHBANE!!Will it still be known as Hogan Park or whats the story there?? I can't wait to see them pics.With LFC you nearly have to see it to believe it sometimes.I'll always remember an interview on 95FM the time we got the big crowds for the Dundalk Cup games under Dave Connell when Father Joe proclaimed that the first blocks in the new clubhouse would be layed within three weeks!!!

**gael353** · 14/01/2005, 8:20 PM

no real news but i did hear today from a Fairview source that Tommy Barrett had signed for us on Thursday evening

I think as Hogan no longer has the ground we should change it and yea i think something like stad luimni to pull down gailge grants as well as stopping any other sports group from taking it might be good. At the PC it was stated that if a sponsor came in they would consider it. No real news and im going to go up the start of the week to see if there are any developments up there. sorry for the lateness of the pics lads but there are others on there with pretty nifty cams who can do it also but i will do it promise

**lim abroad** · 15/01/2005, 3:45 AM

is it true that tommy barrett signed,he would be a major addition to the squad,a proven goalscorer who's also very versatile,he even played in goals for the view last season.im really looking forward to a promising season fot the blues this yeaR

**LFC in Exile** · 17/01/2005, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by gael353

no real news but i did hear today from a Fairview source that Tommy Barrett had signed for us on Thursday evening

I think as Hogan no longer has the ground we should change it and yea i think something like stad luimni to pull down gailge grants as well as stopping any other sports group from taking it might be good. At the PC it was stated that if a sponsor came in they would consider it. No real news and im going to go up the start of the week to see if there are any developments up there. sorry for the lateness of the pics lads but there are others on there with pretty nifty cams who can do it also but i will do it promise

Stad Luimni? Na - don't like it. Gaeilge grants - what are you on?

Whats wrong with Rathbane? Anyway, I think looking for a sponsor would be best option. Stick their name on it for a few quid.

Alternatively, in the interest of generating some interest in the city why not a comptetition run through the Leader or Echo or Live 95 to come up with a name. At least it gets the club onto the radio/paper in teh off-season.

**gael353** · 17/01/2005, 12:24 PM

im not against rathbane, its just its not called rathbane its hogan park which i want rid of. The reason i said call it an irish name was a few years ago galway united got grants for having advertising stuff in irish now maybe it was minister O'Cuiv giving to his eloctorate but i think if we dont go down the stadfium naming route we can do that or both. Great idea about the comp to name it though on the media i think we should do a pole here anyway in the meantime.