HOLY COW! 45
McGUINNESS WANTS ACTION
SOME League of Ireland dressing rooms “are not fit for cattle” while others are “like something from the stone age”.
That's the damning verdict of PFA Ireland boss Stephen McGuinness following a survey of 461 players across the Premier and First Divisions, and Women's Premier Division. And McGuinness hopes the findings strike a chord in Government.
Some 206 players in the men's Premier Division completed the ‘Match-Day Facilities' survey, 150 in the First Division and 105 in the Women's Premier Division.
Conducted at the end of the 2023 season, it found that many dressing rooms were not of adequate size for 20 players and staff.
Shower areas were used as physio/medical rooms at some venues, while there was often a lack of hot water.
The study also found that many dressing rooms only had one functioning toilet for over 25 people — and no lock on the door.
In the men's Premier Division, players voted Oriel Park as the ground where overall match-day facilities are the least acceptable for a professional footballer.
Tallaght Stadium was voted the best, followed, in order, by Turner's Cross, The Showgrounds, Richmond Park, UCD Bowl, Tolka Park, The Brandywell, Dalymount Park, Weavers Park and Oriel Park.
Specifically
Asked to rank the dressing rooms specifically, Premier Division players put Weavers Park at the bottom of the list.
Tallaght Stadium was again top of the pile, followed in order by Turner's Cross, UCD Bowl, The Showgrounds, Richmond Park, Brandywell Stadium, Tolka Park, Dalymount Park, Oriel Park and Weavers Park.
Artificial surfaces got a major thumbs down when players were asked to rank the pitches with Oriel Park deemed the worst, followed by the Brandywell.
Tallaght Stadium has the best pitch followed in order by Richmond Park, Turner's Cross, The Showgrounds, UCD Bowl, Tolka Park, Dalymount Park, Weavers Park, Brandywell Stadium and Oriel Park.
In the First Division, players voted Mounthawk Park in Kerry as the ground where overall match-day facilities are the least acceptable for a pro footballer.
Waterford's RSC was deemed to have the best player facilities, followed in order by Eamonn Deacy Park, Markets Field, Carlisle
Grounds, Ferrycarrig Park, Bishopsgate, Athlone Town Stadium, Finn Park, St. Colman's Park and Mounthawk Park.
St Colman's Park was found to have the worst dressing rooms in the First Division.
Eamonn Deacy Park and the RSC were tied at the top for having the best changing room facilities, followed by Markets Field, Carlisle Grounds, Athlone Town Stadium, Bishopsgate, Ferrycarrig Park, Finn Park, Mounthawk Park and St Colman's.
First Division players also voted Eamonn Deacy Park and the RSC as the joint best pitches, followed by Markets Field, Carlisle Grounds, Ferrycarrig Park, Bishopsgate, Athlone Town Stadium, Finn Park, St Colman's Park and Mounthawk Park.
And in the Women's Premier Division, players voted Dalymount Park rock bottom when asked to rank facilities they feel are not acceptable for the highest level.
Dalymount picked up a ‘hat-trick' after female players voted it bottom of the dressing room and pitch rankings.
General
McGuinness told Star Sport: “There's a lot of talk around the general upgrading facilities at League of Ireland grounds, and that's great.
“But the players' voices cannot get lost in the debate. They are the athletes after all. But some of the dressing rooms are the same as they were 50 years ago. You wouldn't keep cattle in some of them. The Government needs to know that facilities for players are like something from the stone age. It's embarrassing.”
‘You wouldn’t keep cattle in some dressing rooms’