Finn Harps new stadium plans and vision for the future

None

Credit: Finn Harps

There has been recent good news on the stadium development front for Finn Harps. In August, the Minister of State for Sport and the Gaeltacht Jack Chambers gave the green light for the reconfigured plans for the Donegal Community Stadium that were submitted by Finn Harps.

This comes after the announcement earlier in the year of a grant of close to €4 million for the stadium, with Donegal County Council and the FAI committed to providing €0.5m each to support the project.

In the week the Harps are running a major stadium fundraiser, extratime.com caught up with Aidan McNelis, Director of Engagement with Finn Harps, to get more details on the plans for the new stadium.

So what happens next with the new ground?

We are very grateful for the support from the Minister and from both Donegal County Council and the FAI. A 70% grant funding does present a challenge for a club like us, but we have a pathway in place now whereby we can get things moving.  

The first step has been the launch of our Mega Cash Draw on October 28th, with a €20,000 first prize and entry for €20 (or 3 entries for €50) with all profits going towards the new ground. You can enter via the club website at finnharps.ie. The more we can raise the less borrowing we have to do and the sooner we can get diggers back on site.  

We have further initiatives planned as well, including events in Dublin and abroad (a golf event in London was held last month), sale of naming rights and opportunities for people to support the build in other ways such as by buying engraved stones at the new ground.  

 

It must be an exciting prospect for the club and its supporters?

Absolutely. We have waited a long time for this and it’s incredibly exciting that real progress is being made. Having a modern stadium and more pitches nearby that our academy can use will lift the club to a whole new level. I love the idea of having a home terrace that is the catalyst for the noise on match night, gathering well before kick-off as the electricity builds and being the end that every youngster in the area who plays the game dreams of scoring a winning goal. 



We want a ground that isn’t just famous for the match night experience but is also a hub for the community and the county in general - concerts, Christmas markets, other sports and anything else that fits happening in and around the new ground.

I see a place that is the top of ground hoppers lists and is a favourite to visit for away fans. A place both in equal parts fearsome and friendly, intimidating and welcoming. I see a place that we can build on and honour our proud history yet look to better days ahead.  

It seems like the match night experience is central to the thinking for the new ground?

We did a lot of research once we started to look at the model using prefabricated stands and was pleasantly surprised by what we found out. The reviews were consistently positive across a large cross section of club fans and the best bit of all were the comments about atmosphere. 

Having two covered terraces in the ground is something that excites me a lot and if the day ever comes that we needed to convert them to seats that would be perfectly possible to do. I think though the trend is away from the idea that only seats are safe for fans and Germany has long proved that terraced areas are both safe and the heartbeat of any stadium. 

In a general sense the German model of football is exactly the kind of vision I’d like to see here.



It's not just about the home fans either - away fans will have access to terrace or seats according to their preference and should be able to create a great atmosphere at their end as well. 

Does Finn Park remain a part of the club’s plans?

The plan is for Finn Park to remain a central part of the club though and we are continuing to work on getting the lights upgraded as soon as practical while longer term we are looking at relaying the pitch as well. We see Finn Park as central to the growth of our Academy and the development of ladies football at the club.

What is your overall vision for Finn Harps FC?

This is just my opinion, but I’d hope most people at the club would not disagree with much of it.

A club with a modern new home ground with a secure long-term anchor tenancy. This ground to be complete in 2024 on all four sides and to have atmosphere as a key consideration in its layout from the start by including a covered terrace for home fans (easily convertible to seats for European games).  

The fans to have a real sense of ownership of the new ground and especially the home terrace, where we will build an atmosphere and match night experience to eclipse anything in Ireland. To make the match night occasion something that people will want to be a part of, and players will want to play in front of. A ground that is accessible and welcoming to all, hosts non-football events and concerts and that the region can be proud of.

A club with a first team capable of consistently holding its own in the Premier Division and a team in the Women’s National League and that the people of the region are proud to support. Teams that youngsters all over the region aspire to play for and respected throughout the country. Teams that are looked after as well as any in the country in terms of coaching and support. Teams that will one day see the club return to European competition.

A club with one of the best academies in the country, producing male and female players for the first teams and for Ireland underage squads on a regular basis and aiming to produce players that will one day represent Ireland at senior level. This academy to have much improved facilities and the necessity of renting facilities for training and matches to be much reduced.  Working together closely and respectfully with local clubs and leagues to raise standards in football locally together and not only develop footballers but also future fans of the club.

A club with partnerships with community organisations to use the power of football to bring people together and make real impacts on the region. A club that develops not only footballers and coaches but also its volunteers and other staff. 

A club that acknowledges its proud history but sees its best days ahead of it. A club with good governance, long term planning and sustainability as core values, showing that a fan owned club can survive and thrive in the top tier of Irish football.

A club that represents football as it should be.

About Extratime Team

The in-house extratime.com team of writers View Full Profile