Dundalk Winter League in plea for pitches

October 1988

A deputation from Dundalk Winter League asks Dundalk urban council for land for two pitches.

League chairman Brian Coogan explains they started in 1980 with seven teams to provide football for players not of Summer League standard who wanted to play during the winter.

There are now 25 clubs but the league is experiencing difficulty getting pitches.

Summer League fields aren’t available, and they have had no luck with schools. In both cases the reasons given are that the pitches will be damaged, which is understandable, Mr Coogan continues.

The league has been hiring land off farmers but it isn’t satisfactory. The start of the season is suspended for two weeks because they can’t get a decision from the farmer in question.

The chairman adds they have no difficulty sharing but the problem is the league is not affiliated to the Leinster FA.

Secretary Pat Gavin tells the meeting they are catering for around 700 players, and possibly another 120.

Last year it cost £2,500 to run and this is likely to rise by another £400 this term. It isn’t possible to put up the cost for the teams as most of the players are unemployed.

Vice-chairman Jim Conroy points out there were 50 games in 1980, rising to 211 fixtures last year.

Deputy Brendan McGahon repeats his suggestion the town dump could provide pitches.

He says the council owns a football field in Fatima and that should be investigated, and asks why the Summer League isn’t using two pitches on the Rock Road.

County Manager John Quinlivan informs the meeting he will ask the town engineer to see what could be made available on a temporary and long-term basis.