Sporting move to Dalymount Park
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Sporting Fingal have confirmed that all of their home games for the short-term future will be played at Dalymount Park after reaching a three-year agreement with financial-stricken Bohemians, signalling their immediate departure from the Morton Stadium.
Fingal had been using the National Athletics Arena in Santry since joining the league three years ago but licensing issues over the stadium meant a change was needed.
“After three years competing in the Airtricity League of Ireland, we felt it appropriate to carry out an appraisal of our overall operation. We are immensely grateful for having had access to Morton Stadium since our birth,” club secretary John O’Brien said after confirming the deal with Bohs today.
He continued to thank Athletics Ireland for the use of the facilities in the past three years: “The reality is that, without the availability of Morton Stadium, Sporting Fingal could not have come into being. At this point in our existence, however, we have to plan the next phase of our development.
“We must always recognise that Morton is the National Athletics Arena and, acknowledging this, football has to fit in with the needs of Athletics Ireland in their spiritual home. It has not always been easy to manage our playing programme, particularly when revisions to the fixture list, replays etc. were necessary.
“It is due to the generosity and understanding of Athletics Ireland and Clonliffe Harriers that we have succeeded in fulfilling our fixtures to date. Despite their full cooperation, it proved difficult to manage our fixture schedule.
“While there may be some disappointment amongst our supporters at this decision to move, another consideration for us is the accessibility of Morton for our overall catchment,” added O’Brien. “Approximately 40% of the population of Fingal lives in Dublin 15. We have long been conscious of the fact that Santry is not an easy place to get to from this area. Phibsborough, however, is readily accessible by public transport from most parts of the county.
The plan to develop a stadium of their own in Lusk however, remains a medium term plan despite the move to Dalymount and first team manager Liam Buckley has welcomed the switch on to the basis that the pitch in Phibsborough is one of the best in the league.
“While we are thankful to Morton Stadium for having use of the venue in our formative years and hold many great memories from our time in Santry, we are looking forward to playing our matches in Dalymount Park for the next three seasons.
“The location of Dalymount, with its access to the Fingal population and further beyond, was an attractive aspect to the proposition. We were delighted with the turnout we got there in July for our first ever European tie against CS Marítimo from Portugal.
“From a football perspective, too, Dalymount is acknowledged as having the best playing surface in the Airtricity League which lends itself to the team’s style of play,” Buckley said.
Fingal had been using the National Athletics Arena in Santry since joining the league three years ago but licensing issues over the stadium meant a change was needed.
“After three years competing in the Airtricity League of Ireland, we felt it appropriate to carry out an appraisal of our overall operation. We are immensely grateful for having had access to Morton Stadium since our birth,” club secretary John O’Brien said after confirming the deal with Bohs today.
He continued to thank Athletics Ireland for the use of the facilities in the past three years: “The reality is that, without the availability of Morton Stadium, Sporting Fingal could not have come into being. At this point in our existence, however, we have to plan the next phase of our development.
“We must always recognise that Morton is the National Athletics Arena and, acknowledging this, football has to fit in with the needs of Athletics Ireland in their spiritual home. It has not always been easy to manage our playing programme, particularly when revisions to the fixture list, replays etc. were necessary.
“It is due to the generosity and understanding of Athletics Ireland and Clonliffe Harriers that we have succeeded in fulfilling our fixtures to date. Despite their full cooperation, it proved difficult to manage our fixture schedule.
“While there may be some disappointment amongst our supporters at this decision to move, another consideration for us is the accessibility of Morton for our overall catchment,” added O’Brien. “Approximately 40% of the population of Fingal lives in Dublin 15. We have long been conscious of the fact that Santry is not an easy place to get to from this area. Phibsborough, however, is readily accessible by public transport from most parts of the county.
The plan to develop a stadium of their own in Lusk however, remains a medium term plan despite the move to Dalymount and first team manager Liam Buckley has welcomed the switch on to the basis that the pitch in Phibsborough is one of the best in the league.
“While we are thankful to Morton Stadium for having use of the venue in our formative years and hold many great memories from our time in Santry, we are looking forward to playing our matches in Dalymount Park for the next three seasons.
“The location of Dalymount, with its access to the Fingal population and further beyond, was an attractive aspect to the proposition. We were delighted with the turnout we got there in July for our first ever European tie against CS Marítimo from Portugal.
“From a football perspective, too, Dalymount is acknowledged as having the best playing surface in the Airtricity League which lends itself to the team’s style of play,” Buckley said.
About Alan Smith
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