New north Dublin club planned

**Rasher** · 16/05/2007, 9:56 AM

An ad in this morning's Irish Times:

Soccer Development
"Fingal County Council is in the process of finalising a Soccer Development Plan for the county. As part of this, the Council proposes to facilitate the development of a club to represent the entire county in the eircom League. The council is preparing an application for the Club for an FAI licence, with the aim for the club to be a participant in the League of Ireland for the 2008 season.
Fingal CC is interested in discussing this proposal� with prospective financial partners. �..further information may be obtained from etc. etc."

Is this rubber stamping a deal already done, or is it a whole new development?

**Poor Student** · 16/05/2007, 10:01 AM

Someone mentioned ages ago that there were plans to develop a new team to play in the 'A' Championship out of Fingal.

**soccerc** · 16/05/2007, 10:32 AM

It is being promoted by a former Ireland international in partnership with Fingal CC

It is my understanding that 90% of the plan is in place and the only outstanding hurdle is financial/commercial.

I also understand a site has been earmarked for development into a compact all seater stadium/ academy with allied facilities.

**CuanaD** · 16/05/2007, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by Rasher

An ad in this morning's Irish Times:

Soccer Development
the development of a club to represent the entire county in the eircom League. The council is preparing an application for the Club for an FAI licence, with the aim for the club to be a participant in the League of Ireland for the 2008 season.

= NEW club

**Jerry The Saint** · 16/05/2007, 11:00 AM

Surely the council has better things to spend money on than running a football club. Especially when the last club to represent Fingal went out of business TWICE.

with the aim for the club to be a participant in the League of Ireland for the 2008 season.

Not exactly a long-term grassroots project then - the only way this could work is if they took the place of another Dublin club in next year's First Division

**pete** · 16/05/2007, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by Jerry The Saint

Surely the council has better things to spend money on than running a football club.

Don't let the GAA here this

**Dodge** · 16/05/2007, 11:12 AM

Slightly off topic but anyone else thing the peopll behind Fingal County council, trying to get themselves a whole new county (separate to Dublin) is a bit much?

**OneRedArmy** · 16/05/2007, 11:13 AM

I've an idea, call the team Dublin City and have them play in the Dublin GAA colours to sell lots of merchandise.

Its a sure-fire winner....

**BohsPartisan** · 16/05/2007, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Slightly off topic but anyone else thing the peopll behind Fingal County council, trying to get themselves a whole new county (separate to Dublin) is a bit much?

There's been a seperate local authority for years which reflects the population so in administrative terms it is a different county. Lets remember that all counties are is administrative boundaries. What is now Fingal was for a long time part of the kingdom of Brega and later Greater Midhe.
Ridiculous idea to set up a new football club though, especially when the biggest club in the country will soon be playing there anyway.

**dcfcsteve** · 16/05/2007, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by BohsPartisan

.... especially when the biggest club in the country will soon be playing there anyway.

I know we have problems with our own council and stadium, but there's no chance of City upping sticks and moving to Dublin I'm afraid.....

**drummerboy** · 16/05/2007, 11:20 AM

I flagged this development before. They will initially play out of Morton Stadium. Liam Campell (ex Pats) was supposedly involved. They are probably hoping to tap in the huge population out in Swords, an area where Bohs are also hoping to attract new fans from when they relocate to Harristown.

**passinginterest** · 16/05/2007, 11:31 AM

Sounds like exactly the type of team the new 'A' League is looking to attract. If it looks to develop young players in the area and dosen't try to become a professional or even semi pro side it could be very successful. It's not necessarily going to compete with Bohemians.

If the A and B league idea is to succeed it's clubs like this being set up around the country that will make it work. Catering for a specific area at first and if it gets faclilities and player development sorted initially it can eventually try to gain promotion to the first division.

**dublinred** · 16/05/2007, 11:40 AM

According to Trevor Sargent of the greens Swords is bigger than Waterford and Galway , could it sustain a new club?

**dcfcsteve** · 16/05/2007, 11:51 AM

Originally Posted by londonred

According to Trevor Sargent of the greens Swords is bigger than Waterford and Galway , could it sustain a new club?

Wouldn't surprise me.

If Tallaght was a City, it would be the 3rd biggest in the Republic, and 5th biggest in the country (only slightly smaller than Derry, depending on what measure of both conurbations you used).

**Dodge** · 16/05/2007, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by BohsPartisan

There's been a seperate local authority for years which reflects the population so in administrative terms it is a different county. Lets remember that all counties are is administrative boundaries. .

I know all that, but does it have greater claims on "independence" than DunLaoighre or South Dublin County Council's area?

**BohsPartisan** · 16/05/2007, 11:57 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

I know all that, but does it have greater claims on "independence" than DunLaoighre or South Dublin County Council's area?

I wouldn't say so, no. Unless they want to claim they're ethnic Bregans!

**Philly** · 16/05/2007, 12:01 PM

On the A League, does this mean a team can get relegated to the A League from D1 etc?

**Ceirtlis** · 16/05/2007, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by londonred

According to Trevor Sargent of the greens Swords is bigger than Waterford and Galway , could it sustain a new club?

He is talking through his hole if he said that. Population of Swords is 37000 population of Galway 71000, Waterford is bigger as well.

**Schumi** · 16/05/2007, 12:05 PM

Originally Posted by Philly

On the A League, does this mean a team can get relegated to the A League from D1 etc?

I think the plan was that the bottom team in Division 1 would play off against the winner* of the A League.

*If there are enough teams to require more than one group in the A League, the winners** of each group will play off to decide the winner of the league.

**Eircom league reserve teams will not be included.