Football clubs’ fury over pitch setback

FURIOUS members of several football clubs in Drimnagh have claimed that Dublin City Council did not apply for funding for an all-weather pitch on their behalf.

According to members of the five football clubs, they were stunned to learn recently that the council had not applied for funding for an 11-a-side full size all-weather football pitch at Brickfield Park because they had prioritised three other local schemes.

It is understood that the local authority made applications to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport for Capital Sports funding for three schemes out of the 10 they were considering.

Members of the St John Bosco Football Club in Drimnagh claimed the council revealed to them that they had not applied for funding for the

?¬500,000 scheme.

Anto McGlynn, honorary president, explained that a number of clubs in the area including Ben Madigan United, Galtee Celtic, Lisadell United and pub team The Bentley had campaigned for 15 years for an all-weather pitch for the area.

He said the club’s senior team currently has to train about nine kilometres away in Clondalkin and play their home matches in the Leinster Senior League at the Iveagh Grounds in Crumlin, which costs them

?¬200 per week.

“There are absolutely no sporting facilities in Drimnagh,

? he said.

“A couple of months ago the council told us they would apply for the all-weather pitch and we were delighted.

“We got all the clubs in the area together and told the council that we supported their proposals. We said that if any outstanding funding was needed we would get the project going.

“Then we went to a meeting and were told that the council never applied for the proposal. They said they applied for three others.

“Our representative at this meeting walked out,

? Mr McGlynn added.

“He couldn’t believe it. The impression we got previously was that this was going to happen.

?

Mr McGlynn noted that the council had drafted a set of plans for the construction of the facilities. He added that the clubs themselves had spent

?¬1,500 for a study to ensure that the land was suitable for an all-weather pitch.

Sinn Féin activist in the Drimnagh area, Daithí Doolan, has called on the city council to honour the commitment he claims it made to support an application for funding to construct an all-weather football pitch at Brickfield Park.

“As someone who met with the football teams, I was shocked to be informed that Dublin City Council has decided not to submit the application,

? he said.

“I have been informed that Dublin City Council were involved in 10 applications but decided to submit only three. People have a right to know why some applications were submitted and others were left to one side.

?

Mr Doolan has since written to the City Manager and to the Executive Manager seeking an immediate meeting to explain to the football teams why exactly council officials decided to withhold the application.

A spokesperson for Dublin City Council said they were in the process of arranging a meeting with Brickfield Park management committee.

“A report on the matter will also be presented to councillors at the July meeting of the South Central Area committee,

? the spokesperson added.