Works on ‘state of the art’ Fermoy facility to commence at the end of May
Fermoy Football Club (FC) are well on their way to beginning works on a new all-weather AstroTurf facility and according to club chairperson, Aidan O’Mahony, it is hoped that works to build the new facility will get underway at the end of this month.
The new development will see a full-size FIFA approved AstroTurf pitch replace the current schoolboys/girls pitch at Carrig Park and will see the addition of floodlighting on both the new AstroTurf facility and the main senior grass pitch.
New fencing will also be installed, encompassing both pitches, along with a spectator rail fence.
Altogether, the project is expected to cost in the region of €700,000 and is expected to take 12 weeks to complete.
“Our season finishes at the end of May and starts up again in late August or early September. The plan is to have this up and running for the new season and it will be a state of the art facility when it’s done,” Mr O’Mahony said.
“There is no full-size AstroTurf facility in North Cork at the moment, you have to go to the city to rent one, so this really will be the first of its kind for the area.”
Recent growth in the club has seen an increased need for an all-weather facility at the Fermoy FC grounds.
Currently, the club provides facilities for 22 competing teams, both boys and girls, and hosts approximately 200 young people in their academy.
“The numbers in the club have really increased so we had no choice but to go down this route because of the wear and tear it has had on the grass pitch. The new facility will be a fantastic benefit to the club. With this, teams can train all year round, in all weather. At the minute, teams can only train once a week but with the full-size AstroTurf, we can move that up to twice a week, which will really help with their development,” Mr O’Mahony added.
While the local club have hoped for an all-weather pitch of this calibre for some time, plans for the facility really got underway about two years ago when Fermoy FC began the process of applying for grants and seeking planning permission.
“Because of the cost of the project, it’s always been a pipeline dream but we were lucky, we got a very generous donation towards the project. We applied for a Sports Capital Grant and with Covid, everything was delayed but we came up trumps and got the maximum about of funding towards the project,” Mr O’Mahony added.
Under the Sports Capital Grant, Fermoy FC received €150,000 at the time.
EXCITING TIMES
The Carrig Park based club is currently running a fundraising appeal for the new development and is seeking public assistance for the biggest project in their history. The first fundraiser is their ‘Super Draw’ which will run for five weeks with €1,000 to be won each week at a cost of €10 per week to enter.
‘Buy a Brick’ is the second fundraising appeal in which the club is asking families, members of the club and community, as well as past members to support Fermoy FC by essentially purchasing a piece of the project. This appeal will also commend those who ‘buy a brick’ by having their name on a sign installed at the facility.
Finally, the club are appealing to businesses to get on board by purchasing signage. New fencing is to be installed as part of the development, encompassing both pitches and the club is seeking companies to purchase signage, which will be installed on the new fencing.
“It has been excellent, we’ve had great support from local businesses and the community and this development will be a massive benefit to the whole community and to the local schools.
“We’re really hoping that families and the public will buy into this fundraising appeal and support the club, because this development is for their benefit really and will benefit them in the years to come,” Mr O’Mahony added.