New Training Facility at Athenry?

**exiled_gufc_fan** · 23/02/2008, 8:51 AM

Three sports clubs in Athenry have come together to bid for 5 new pitches and running track for the town.

Athenry Athletics Club, Galway United FC and Athenry FC are hoping to build a major sports training facility at Ballygarraun North.

The sports training centre would include a 400 metre 8 lane athletic track, two large playing pitches and three smaller pitches, clubhouse, playground, floodlighting and car and bus parking areas at Ballygarraun North.

The site is just outside Athenry town and would be used by Athenry Athletics Club, Galway United FC and Athenry FC.

But nearby residents are already objecting, claiming loss of privacy due to traffic, light pollution from the proposed Flood lights, noise pollution from crowds, as well as on-site littering.

http://www.galwaynews.ie/node/2908

**GuisaSaigon** · 23/02/2008, 9:41 AM

Much needed, it's madness to keep throwing money in Salthill Devons direction. First I've heard of it. Hope it gets the go ahead

**Con-Con** · 23/02/2008, 10:23 AM

Hope it goes ahead. They need something like this to train on.

**galwaygooner** · 24/02/2008, 6:57 PM

Originally Posted by GuisaSaigon

Much needed, it's madness to keep throwing money in Salthill Devons direction. First I've heard of it. Hope it gets the go ahead

Oh and will they not need money to build a place out in the sticks !

**gufct** · 24/02/2008, 7:06 PM

if you knew anything about the Athenry connection with GUFC you wouldnt be posting rubbish like that. This is a huge move for the club and gives us independence and our own training facility. Thanks to the main man in this he is an unbelievable asset to Gufc and the whole area of Athenry.

**geezer** · 24/02/2008, 10:29 PM

Utd have to start striking out on their own as they have no real assets unlike the competitive threats around the city. Athenry train and road links are improving all the time and its an ideal base to start an asset building period in the history of united. You have to have assets in order to leverage funding in any business and plan growth. Its the single biggest mistake Utd have made in the last 30 years not building assets.

**Patrick Dunne** · 24/02/2008, 11:45 PM

Well said, geezer and gufct.

I would honestly prefer our club to be like Monaghan United, than our currrent situation, where we have no assets and have to pay thousands of euro of rent per month for playing and training facilities.

GUFC need to set up a development fund now, so supporters can contribute
to a facililty that we can own or have a share in, in the longterm.

At the moment, supporters money is being flushed down the toilets of local pubs and nightclubs. This is not a indictment of our current squad, but it has been the status quo since 1977, and will continue to be the status quo for the future.

The money that GUST raise is being converted to urine as I type. It should be used to create an asset to build for the future.

**galwaygooner** · 25/02/2008, 8:52 AM

Originally Posted by gufct

if you knew anything about the Athenry connection with GUFC you wouldnt be posting rubbish like that. This is a huge move for the club and gives us independence and our own training facility. Thanks to the main man in this he is an unbelievable asset to Gufc and the whole area of Athenry.

Why is it that every thing is rubbish unless it comes out of your mouth..
Yes i do know the Athenry Connection..Is he going to pay for every thing and say here you go guys start training..

**Terry** · 02/03/2008, 11:04 AM

Ideas like this can get big sponsorships/contributions to be built also. I will be talking to my bosses in dublin tomorrow with this bit of news and they will get onto the companies we work for i.e. Lucozade, Coca Cola, Mars, Nestle, Cadbury, Kelloggs and others in the near future and see what happens when/if there is any more developement.

**galwayhoop** · 03/03/2008, 2:05 PM

Originally Posted by galwaygooner

Is he going to pay for every thing and say here you go guys start training..

I think this facility is proposed to be a joint venture between Athenry FC, Athenry athletic club and GUFC.

**gufct** · 03/03/2008, 2:19 PM

Exactly and it will mean a significant 5 figure saving on the rent we are paying in Drom. a very large proportion of the squad live in Athenry as well so it will save on travel time as well.