Rovers receive FAI financial support for Roadstone development

Shamrock Rovers have secured funding from the FAI to further develop the club’s academy at Roadstone Sports Club in Kingswood.

€180,000 is being made available by the FAI to fund the completion of phase one and to support the next phase of development for the League of Ireland club’s academy.

FAI CEO John Delaney praised Shamrock Rovers' development plans, saying: "The FAI Board was hugely impressed by the level of ambition and strategic vision demonstrated by Shamrock Rovers when it presented its plans to the board.

"In approving significant support for Shamrock Rovers and the club's development of its academy, the FAI is demonstrating an ongoing commitment to the continued development of this excellent facility, in line with the club's strategic plan," Delaney said.

Earlier in the year, the Hoops completed their first phase of development works which included a FIFA Pro all-weather floodlit pitch. That phase was part funded through a Sports Capital Grant of €150,000.

This latest set of funding will complete that first phase of works which includes upgraded sand based grass pitches which include a full irrigation system.

Crucially for Rovers is the financial support from the FAI for the next phase of works. This latest phase is for the construction of a 300m² single storey extension to the existing 2,000m² sports centre building in addition to some alterations to part of the existing ground floor.

The extension, designed by RKD Architects, includes new facilities that include four dressing rooms, along with an additional referee room, a physio room, an indoor gym, coaching room, TV lounge and equipment store room.

The Hoops are hoping to receive a final grant of planning permission for the works by November.

Shamrock Rovers chairman Jonathan Roche welcomed the FAI's support.

"We would like to thank the FAI for their assistance in our development of the Shamrock Rovers Academy and training centre, which is already into the second phase and proving to be hugely beneficial to our teams at all levels,” said Roche.

"Phase One has been a huge success for all involved and with the backing of the FAI and our partners at Roadstone Group Sports Club we can now complete the the second and final phase that will enable us to deliver on our strategic objective of providing the best possible pathway for player development in this country.

"The backing of the FAI in putting our five-year strategic plan into practice is essential to the future of the club and we welcome their support and assistance. This is an exciting period for the club and we look forward to our Academy helping to strengthen Shamrock Rovers FC as a whole."

Rovers have recently completed an outdoor gym, adjacent to their main pitch, which is being used by their teams from u12 up to Stephen Bradley’s senior squad.

A goal was scored today in training.. it started with McPhail, who played out wide to Duff who in turn crossed for Keane to finish.

— Gary Shaw (@gary_shaw10) September 12, 2017

With Rovers’ kids development academy since September being run from Roadstone, it means all Hoops teams from age 4 to the first team squad are using Roadstone as their training base. The club’s u15 team managed by Damien Duff, who has first team left back Luke Byrne as part of his coaching team, train there four times a week including one early morning weekly session.

The boys finish at 7.35am shower nutritious breakfast to go and then off to school. The 15s train 4 times a week and play on the weekend 2/3 pic.twitter.com/0vAI8o14kW

— Shamrock Rovers F.C. (@ShamrockRovers) August 31, 2017