Limerick set for Markets Field return
Credit:
Senior soccer in Limerick will now return to its “spiritual home” after an exodus exceeding twenty years.
The Markets Field venue located in Garryowen was previously owned by Bord nag Con, until a bid backed by Limerick’s “Person of the Year”, J.P. McManus was accepted. His bid came through the Limerick Enterprise Development Partnership, his own charitable trust. The deal secures Limerick F.C. a ground which has seen them in their most successful reigns, the early sixties and early eighties, winning two Premier Division titles along the way as well as two FAI cups.
The bid of €1.5 million was deemed fair and after months of negotiations, the old greyhound track is now finally available for soccer in Limerick. Speaking to a leading Limerick newspaper, LEDP director Gerry Boland said “A licence to occupy the Markets Field will be granted to Limerick FC and supporters can expect to return to the former greyhound racing stadium during 2012. “The generosity of the JP McManus Charitable Foundation made this dream come true and I am particularly pleased to see Limerick FC, now represented by Munster Football Club Limited, returning to its roots at the historic Markets Field”.
The LEDP intends to work closely with Limerick F.C. in order to ensure the Markets Field reaches its potential and becomes an excellent sporting stadium. The stadium will now undergo redevelopment in order for it to meet licensing criteria set out by the FAI. The Limerick locals will only hope that its Premier Division football they will be watching next season in the ground which saw the club at its peak.
Welcoming the announcement, Pat O'Sullivan, Chairman of Limerick FC, stated: “I wish to thank JP and Noreen McManus for their extreme generosity, without which this momentous day for Limerick sport could not have come about. The generosity of the McManus family has been an inspiration and a source of wonderful support to many people and organisations throughout the region and we in Limerick FC, as a key part of the wider sporting community, are so grateful for this marvellous gesture.
“Munster Football Club Ltd, trading as Limerick FC, which is a not-for-profit club, is delighted to be afforded the privilege to operate The Markets Field. This is a huge responsibility and one that the club will not take lightly. We are first and foremost a community based club and our wish is to create a club that the people of the Mid West can have pride in. With the Markets Field as our home, not only can the club prosper on the national stage in the Airticity League, but we can also encourage all people to embrace soccer as a means of encouraging inclusivity in society.”
“Limerick FC is, as a community based club, providing education, employment and sporting opportunities to young people to help them develop their personal lives in a positive way for the greater benefit of the wider community. In the long term, we believe this will help to solve some of the region's major social issues and now the Markets Field will be the focal point in this strategy.”
“It is the club’s intention to commence playing in the Markets Field in the 2012 season. I wish to extend our gratitude to Gerry Boland and all those at the Limerick Enterprise Development Partnership for helping to make our move home to the Markets Field a reality. Heartfelt thanks must also go to Dick Sullivan and Adrian Nealon at the Irish Greyhound Board for their commitment to making this day come to fruition. Many other people have contributed greatly to making this project a reality and I wish to acknowledge their efforts and to thank them on behalf of all Limerick soccer and sporting people within the Mid West region.”
“Finally, I would also like to take this opportunity to extend our gratitude to the LDMC for the use of Jackman Park over the last number of years and the football family, particularly the Limerick District Schoolboys' League, the University of Limerick and the region's Junior and Schoolboys clubs for their continuing support. We will now work closely with the Limerick Enterprise Development Partnership to develop the Markets Field into a first class sporting facility for the people of Limerick and the Mid West region.”
The Markets Field venue located in Garryowen was previously owned by Bord nag Con, until a bid backed by Limerick’s “Person of the Year”, J.P. McManus was accepted. His bid came through the Limerick Enterprise Development Partnership, his own charitable trust. The deal secures Limerick F.C. a ground which has seen them in their most successful reigns, the early sixties and early eighties, winning two Premier Division titles along the way as well as two FAI cups.
The bid of €1.5 million was deemed fair and after months of negotiations, the old greyhound track is now finally available for soccer in Limerick. Speaking to a leading Limerick newspaper, LEDP director Gerry Boland said “A licence to occupy the Markets Field will be granted to Limerick FC and supporters can expect to return to the former greyhound racing stadium during 2012. “The generosity of the JP McManus Charitable Foundation made this dream come true and I am particularly pleased to see Limerick FC, now represented by Munster Football Club Limited, returning to its roots at the historic Markets Field”.
The LEDP intends to work closely with Limerick F.C. in order to ensure the Markets Field reaches its potential and becomes an excellent sporting stadium. The stadium will now undergo redevelopment in order for it to meet licensing criteria set out by the FAI. The Limerick locals will only hope that its Premier Division football they will be watching next season in the ground which saw the club at its peak.
Welcoming the announcement, Pat O'Sullivan, Chairman of Limerick FC, stated: “I wish to thank JP and Noreen McManus for their extreme generosity, without which this momentous day for Limerick sport could not have come about. The generosity of the McManus family has been an inspiration and a source of wonderful support to many people and organisations throughout the region and we in Limerick FC, as a key part of the wider sporting community, are so grateful for this marvellous gesture.
“Munster Football Club Ltd, trading as Limerick FC, which is a not-for-profit club, is delighted to be afforded the privilege to operate The Markets Field. This is a huge responsibility and one that the club will not take lightly. We are first and foremost a community based club and our wish is to create a club that the people of the Mid West can have pride in. With the Markets Field as our home, not only can the club prosper on the national stage in the Airticity League, but we can also encourage all people to embrace soccer as a means of encouraging inclusivity in society.”
“Limerick FC is, as a community based club, providing education, employment and sporting opportunities to young people to help them develop their personal lives in a positive way for the greater benefit of the wider community. In the long term, we believe this will help to solve some of the region's major social issues and now the Markets Field will be the focal point in this strategy.”
“It is the club’s intention to commence playing in the Markets Field in the 2012 season. I wish to extend our gratitude to Gerry Boland and all those at the Limerick Enterprise Development Partnership for helping to make our move home to the Markets Field a reality. Heartfelt thanks must also go to Dick Sullivan and Adrian Nealon at the Irish Greyhound Board for their commitment to making this day come to fruition. Many other people have contributed greatly to making this project a reality and I wish to acknowledge their efforts and to thank them on behalf of all Limerick soccer and sporting people within the Mid West region.”
“Finally, I would also like to take this opportunity to extend our gratitude to the LDMC for the use of Jackman Park over the last number of years and the football family, particularly the Limerick District Schoolboys' League, the University of Limerick and the region's Junior and Schoolboys clubs for their continuing support. We will now work closely with the Limerick Enterprise Development Partnership to develop the Markets Field into a first class sporting facility for the people of Limerick and the Mid West region.”
About Andrew Cunneen
Andrew joined Extratime for the 2010 season and covers all the on-goings down in Limerick. Having first experienced the League of Ireland in 2002, Andrew became hooked, even at such an early age. He is … View Full Profile