End of the line for Belfield Park

[Schumi]

As far as I know, there is an agreement that our move will coincide with building the Bowl up to UEFA Licence requirements ... changing areas

They've bulit changing rooms there (they look finished but might still have work to be done on the inside). Looks pretty good from the outside anyway.

I'll go and take a few photos tomorrow and stick them up somewhere so people can get an idea of what the place is like.

[Poor Student]

My dad is a lotto retailer and he gets this monthly lotto newsletter. There's a small bit in it about the new pavillion.

UCD SPORTS PAVILLION CHANGING FACILITY

UCD's new Sports Pavillion Changing Facility has received a grant of 700,000 Euro from the National Beneficiary Fund through the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism. The Sports Pavillion includes four top class international standard changing rooms, incorporating physiotherapy rooms and ice baths. This new facility will provide much needed changing accomodation for use by all UCD outdoor sports. The Irish National Hockey Association will also use the facility when hosting events in the National Hockey Stadium.

The pics indicate it is somewhere near the water tower and sports centre I think. The inside pics show only empty rooms. Sounds top class though. Still though you'd hardly get changed there and trek across to the Bowl would you?

[Schumi]

It's right beside the Bowl. I'll see if I can find a map somewhere.

[Poor Student]

I'm assuming if a grant to help alone was 700k and this is only for the building seeing as we own the land this must be a very good facility. I think we held some championships in hockey before, world or European so if they hold things on that scale they'd want a very good facility.

Does the Bowl itself have its own dressing room or is this it for the future?

Also I know very little about pitches. Why do we have such a nice one at Belfield Park and such a crap one at the Bowl? Is it something that could be rectified? Would the two sports sharing the ground wreck the pitch anway? Where are the U-21s going to play? Do the rugby and soccer seasons overlap at all?

[fosterdollar]

It's right beside the Bowl. I'll see if I can find a map somewhere.

So were they built as part of the new Astro pitches project etc.?

[Poor Student]

So were they built as part of the new Astro pitches project etc.?

From the blurry picture on the lotto newsletter it seems to be right beside them.

[fosterdollar]

You'd never know lads, sharing with the Rugby club may be to your advantage. More powerful joint lobby. Plus the potential for development at the bowl from what i can picture in my head seems to be better than Belfield Park. It would be prudent to get such plans in place before moving though, needless to say.

On the other hand, it could be a total disaster. The situation will require some good management by those involved on your 'side'.

[Schumi]

Does the Bowl itself have its own dressing room or is this it for the future?

This will be the Bowl's dressing room (they used the Sports' Centre up to now), I didn't realise that it'd be used by hockey too.

Also I know very little about pitches. Why do we have such a nice one at Belfield Park and such a crap one at the Bowl? Is it something that could be rectified?

Drainage I believe (although it's not something I know too much about either). The Bowl (as the name implies) has the pitch below the surrounding ground so water doesn't drain as easily. There could well be other factors too but I think that's the main one.

Would the two sports sharing the ground wreck the pitch anway?

Depends on the amount of maintainance it gets i'd imagine.

Where are the U-21s going to play?

Good question. I hadn't thought of that. There aren't too many decent pitches on campus.

Do the rugby and soccer seasons overlap at all?

The rugby season runs from October to the middle of April so about a month at either end of the season will overlap. The lack of a rest period could be more of a problem though.

[Poor Student]

By the way is anyone actually fighting against this on the AFC's behalf?

[CollegeTillIDie]

We have hosted a Women's Hockey World Cup (1994) and a Men's European Hockey Championships (1995) in Belfield.

[Bald Student]

Also, as I was passing Owenstown today I noticed red poles and markings laid out on the top two pitches. I don't want to be alarmist but it looks as though the site is being surveyed.

[Poor Student]

Also, as I was passing Owenstown today I noticed red poles and markings laid out on the top two pitches. I don't want to be alarmist but it looks as though the site is being surveyed.

I remember seeing something about a month ago there but I thought they were laying pipework or something.

[Bald Student]

Cycling in this afternoon I noticed builders fencing going up atound the top Owenstown pitch.

I'll keep you updated.

[pineapple stu]

By the way is anyone actually fighting against this on the AFC's behalf?

Not sure. The club have been aware of it for a while, and so I presume have lodged some objection with the college. Our licencing officer is very much in favour of the move. It should be noted too that, in fairness to the college, when they do build sports facilities, they're usually very good (the national hockey stadium, athletics track which hosts some major domestic races, Hugh Brady's tennis courts).

[Schumi]

I'll go and take a few photos tomorrow and stick them up somewhere so people can get an idea of what the place is like.

As promised: See here. Click on the pictures for a decent sized version.

[pineapple stu]

The pitch is in better condition than I thought it would be (though off season, I suppose). The slope is also less than I'd thought. There's a lot of work to be done to block off the pitch from cheapskates who don't want to pay in though!

[Poor Student]

I can't load the pics. Definately a problem with my comp though. Nevermind. I got the 17 from the Blackrock Examination Centre today and also saw some major work going on at the Owenstown pitches. A lot of fencing going up. The goals taken down. Pitches may have digging in them too. Though they never looked good at the best of times.

Where do you lads personally stand on this? Good thing or bad thing? I assume the cons are tradition and sentimental for the mainpart? And possibly a poor pitch?

[Bald Student]

If the pitch can be improved and a new stadium is built I'm not opposed to the move. Realistically Belfield Park is not likely to meet any kind of UEFA licence criterion.

I am opposed to so many pitches being lost to the superleague, allthough the top Owenstown pitch was in a joke of a state.

[pineapple stu]

Lost by the league, I think he means.

[Bald Student]

Sorry for being unclear Shooter. I meant that the pitches that the league currently uses would be put under buildings. This will reduce the amount of teams that can compete. That's what I meant by pitches being lost.

On an aside, has anyone played on the new full size plasitc pitch? I've played on the smaller ones and they're very good. As close to playing on grass as you can get without playing on grass. They need to be a little wet for the sake of the keeper though.