Special night for Ballisodare Utd
LAST week Ballisodare United FC hosted an official Contract Signing for their new facilities development which is entitled Ballisodare Utd AFC All Weather Playing Facility and Community Walking Track. There was a presentation by club members while representatives from the main stakeholders in the project SIS Pitches (owned by Sligo man George Mullan), Sligo Leader and Clann Credo also addressed the large crowd in attendance.
The FAI are also helping to fund the project. The project cost is €400,000 with Sligo Leader Grant funding €200,000 of it. The FAI provided Ballisodare United with €50,000 funding and the club have also secured a Clann Credo loan of €150,000 which will be repaid over 15 years.
Ballisodare United Secretary Stephen Healy said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have reached this stage in the project and in less than 12 months is amazing to say that we are ready for works to start. To have SIS Pitches (who installed six of the 12 stadium pitches for Russia 2018) installing our pitch has everybody very excited.
“Our club has expanded in recent times; we now have 15 teams, over 300 players and play over 200 games each year. We hope these state of the art facilities allow us to continue meeting the needs of not only our own teams but also those of the wider community.
“For example, the walking track will provide a much needed safe place for people to exercise,” he added.
Stephen said: “We’re working with Strand Celtic to deliver the FAI Football for All programmes in the Northwest.
“The new facility will allow our club cater for programmes with Ireland Blind Football Ireland, Association of Irish Powerchair Football, Irish Amputee Football Association and HSE Mental Health Teams along with collaborations with Sligo Sports & Recreational Partnerships.”
Speakers on the night included Fine Gael Deputy Tony McLoughlin who helped Ballisodare United along their journey over the past 12 months and this included assisting them in securing a meeting with FAI CEO Mr John Delaney. Deputy McLoughlin praised the club for their forward thinking and the committee’s hard work behind the scenes to secure the project’s success.
Mr Blair Feeney (Director and Vice chair of Sligo LEADER Partnership) commended Ballisodare United on their work in the community and encouraged other clubs and organisations to apply to Sligo Leader to enhance their facilities.
LCDC Chairperson Cllr Sinead Maguire remarked how the facility will be a brilliant boost to the local community before complimenting the club’s forward thinking for partnering with SpunOut.ie (Ireland’s leading information website for helping youths around mental health and well-being) and launching their own Mobile App.
Tracey Hannon of Clann Credo - Regional Manager West/ North West Region spoke positively about the governance of Ballisodare United and commented on how the club successfully met Clann Credos financial requirements in order to receive a €150,000 loan from the Community Loan Finance organisation.
SIS Pitches Sales Director Darren McGeehan said: “SIS Pitches were delighted to attend the fantastic launch night and contract signing for Ballisodare United’s new synthetic pitch and walking track development.
“Having constructed and installed pitches at the 2018 World Cup and at some of the biggest Club names in sport,
“SIS Pitches now look forward to delivering a world-class pitch facility here on our doorstep for a brilliant local club.”
The FAI could not attend the contract signing night but sent their best wishes to the club and look forward to working with Ballisodare United on the facility.
On the whole it was special and significant evening for Ballisodare United and the Sligo community.
Construction on Ballisodare Utd AFC All Weather Playing Facility and Community Walking Track begins in the coming weeks with complete due in the Spring of 2019.