Junior Club Facilities

**hamish** · 12/12/2005, 2:50 PM

Thinking about local football in a positive fashion, I've read quite a few posts on facilities in Junior football.

I have seen many clubs with fantastic facilities in various parts of the country.

Perhaps, some of you might like to share with us information about the facilities of your local football club or other clubs you've visited.

Again, this is about Junior or schoolboy/girl clubs, NOT Eircom League.

It's amazing how clubs, even in the townlands and small villages, have some terrific set-ups.

Have you any good examples?

This information might come in handy if some of you are playing still (or supporting your local club) and might be visiting clubs in the FAI Junior Cup or some such competition - nice to know what to expect.

**galwaygirl** · 12/12/2005, 4:24 PM

Have to say, one of the best set-ups i've seen has to be Salthill Devon's Drom.
Their website http://www.salthilldevon.ie/ is under construction at the moment but there's a couple of pictures at the top of it that would give you a fair idea of it. Think it cost about E6 million..

**hamish** · 12/12/2005, 5:38 PM

Originally Posted by galwaygirl

Have to say, one of the best set-ups i've seen has to be Salthill Devon's Drom.
Their website http://www.salthilldevon.ie/ is under construction at the moment but there's a couple of pictures at the top of it that would give you a fair idea of it. Think it cost about E6 million..

Jaysus, that is some awesome set up Galway Girl. Brother in law was there recently with some Athlone girls footie teams and was amazed.

I know at least one of the blokes involved........Noel Meehan of Specsavers........brother in law used to teach him.

There was another chap.........I just can't remember his name. He's a sound bloke and his family have/had a newsagents/shop just off Eyre Square.

**strangeirish** · 12/12/2005, 6:03 PM

Newbridge Town FC My old club. Although Kildare County plays there, it's still a right set up for a junior team to have such accomplished facilities. And now that it has been re-zoned, the land is worth a fortune!

**hamish** · 12/12/2005, 6:13 PM

Originally Posted by strangeirish

Newbridge Town FC My old club. Although Kildare County plays there, it's still a right set up for a junior team to have such accomplished facilities. And now that it has been re-zoned, the land is worth a fortune!

Was there in either 1997 or 1998 and they've made even more progress since then. Way to go Newbridge.

**strangeirish** · 12/12/2005, 6:16 PM

Originally Posted by sirhamish

Was there in either 1997 or 1998 and they've made even more progress since then. Way to go Newbridge.

If you look real close, if you ever get there again, in the foyer and the bar and you will see a few photo's of strangeirish! Both were removed from the post office.

**hamish** · 12/12/2005, 6:25 PM

Originally Posted by strangeirish

If you look real close, if you ever get there again, in the foyer and the bar and you will see a few photo's of strangeirish! Both were removed from the post office.

Ha ha.

My dad was from Kildare strangeirish,: I hope we're not related.LOL

**strangeirish** · 12/12/2005, 6:31 PM

Originally Posted by sirhamish

Ha ha.

My dad was from Kildare strangeirish,: I hope we're not related.LOL

I was born in Portloise (the hospital, not the prison) but raised in Newbridge. No relation methinks.

**hamish** · 12/12/2005, 6:41 PM

Originally Posted by strangeirish

I was born in Portloise (the hospital, not the prison) but raised in Newbridge. No relation methinks.

Whew.

Ballinasloe Town FC.....view from clubhouse

Floodlights are up to colour television standards (smirk)
Stand on the right holds about 500......seats not installed yet.

http://www.ballinasloe.com/photos/di...lbum=14&pos=11

**renovater** · 12/12/2005, 8:15 PM

you must go to mayo sometime on your travels, I would say they must have great facilities
Some of those clubs have two pitches trainning grounds even astro pitches.they are the envey of connaught its apart of their criteria not to mention stands and flood lighting

**Thunderblaster** · 12/12/2005, 9:27 PM

If you are in Mayo, check out Milebush, Ballyheane, Manulla, Ballyglass and Snugboro. In the next tier, I would put in Castlebar Celtic, Ballyvary BB and Swinford.

**hamish** · 12/12/2005, 9:40 PM

Originally Posted by Thunderblaster

If you are in Mayo, check out Milebush, Ballyheane, Manulla, Ballyglass and Snugboro. In the next tier, I would put in Castlebar Celtic, Ballyvary BB and Swinford.

I have used Manulla as the venue for the Connacht Primary Schools finals.....awesome. Have also been in Milebush too. Fantastic set-ups. Have only heard about the others but great reports. Mayo is, surely, the most progressive county in the country for excellent club facilities.

Any pictures of all the above lads???

Not being big-headed but this thread is important to show the progress made throughout the country as so many are saying that facilities are bad in Ireland.

**leftoutside** · 12/12/2005, 10:25 PM

Originally Posted by Thunderblaster

If you are in Mayo, check out Milebush, Ballyheane, Manulla, Ballyglass and Snugboro. In the next tier, I would put in Castlebar Celtic, Ballyvary BB and Swinford.

there is another part of Mayo not connected with the castlebar area thats north mayo and out in Bangor the local hibs side now have one iof the finest pitches in mayo with an excellent clubhouse and ballina town have to be rated as one of the top facilities once they open thier new facilities and i was at a match in killala the other week and what facilities floodlit astroturf, immaculate pitch and a new club house, I wonder what tier these clubs are in?

**lim abroad** · 13/12/2005, 1:12 AM

i have to say that i'm well impressed with the set-ups that the above clubs have,they would easily be far superior than anything we have in limerick,keep up the good work!!

**hamish** · 13/12/2005, 6:45 PM

Anyone know how to check out Junior clubs and where to get them. I've tried all sorts of sites via Google Ireland but am drawing a blank.

For example, a few years ago, I came across Piltown FC (Kilkenny) and saw their new ground with pictures etc. Now, there is a site for them but no ground pictures. Ditto Parkvilla in Navan.

Anyone help me here???

**paul_oshea** · 13/12/2005, 7:38 PM

It's amazing how clubs, even in the townlands and small villages, have some terrific set-ups.

castlerea celtic, have a clubhouse in place at the moment with an upstairs gym and a snooker club, they also have a stand on one side of the pitch, and at the other a fully flood lit astro turf pitch, the new kind ones that dont cause carpet burns.
in the last few years htey must have put in about 400,000 euro alone. they really are getting there.

boyle celtic have a very good setup as well.

**the 12 th man** · 13/12/2005, 7:40 PM

I'm told Fanad Utd (Donegal) have a good set up anybody know about this club?.

**hamish** · 13/12/2005, 8:56 PM

I notice a good few clubs have websites but very few pics of their grounds.

**drummerboy** · 14/12/2005, 8:58 AM

Gannon Park, Malahide top notch
Frank Cook Park, Tolka Rovers, excellent setup, small stand
Arklow Town, 2 superb pitch, stand and all weather pitchels
Edenderry Town, another superb pitch, along with all weather training areas
Mullingar Athletic, excellent facilities, plus floodlights installed recently
Parkvilla, good facilities, running track around pitch

Happily, all over the country including some of the lower leagues clubs are starting to benefit from grants and providing quality pitches, long may it last

**balls** · 17/12/2005, 8:22 PM

cahir park must have one of best pitches in munster and training area as well as an astro turf pitch. stand also covers 1 side of pich. saint michaels from tipp town also have similar facilities. Clonmel town have there own indoor soccer hall as well as beautifl pitch with running track around it. too many clubs around the country with poor facilities though its not acceptable in this day and age