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Ger Delaney (FAI), Pat Lyons (chairman of FORAS Supporters Trust), Cllr John Paul O’Shea (Mayor of Cork County), Tim Murphy (CEO Cork City FC) and Tim Lucey (CEO Cork County Council), pictured as the green light for the development of a Regional Centre of Excellence for soccer at Brooklodge, Glanmire was announced.

Cork County councillors were recently unanimous in their support of a proposal to dispose of Council land in Cork by way of a lease to the Football Association of Ireland. This decision gives the green light for the development of a Regional Centre of Excellence on a 30.4 acre site at Brooklodge in Glanmire. The site is strategically located near the Dunkettle Interchange, the main access point to Cork City with over half a million population within one hours driving time of the location.

This exciting new development will provide training and playing facilities for players of all ages, coaches, referees and administrators in the Munster area. The facility will be one of three FAI Centres of Excellence located nationally to support the delivery of the FAI’s soon to be launched Player Development Plan, which promises to outline a sea change in how young players in Ireland are developed from the earliest stages. The agreement is also great news for Cork City Football Club and its supporters, as it will facilitate the long overdue provision of a permanent training base for Munster’s flagship club.

APPROPRIATE INFRASTRUCTURE

Speaking to The Avondhu, Michael Looby FAI Development Officer for West Waterford/East Cork, reiterated that this is a very exciting development for the football family, not only in Cork, but throughout South Munster.

“Such a facility could host elite player development programmes and various other programmes for both boys and girls. Being situated on this side of the city, the centre of soccer excellence will be very accessible to our local young players in the East Cork and West Waterford areas and will certainly help them all to reach their full potential,” he said.

The chief executive of Cork County Council, Mr Tim Lucey, said ‘the selection of Cork, and particularly the location at Glanmire, by the FAI to develop this regional centre of excellence, recognises not just the strategic positioning of the location, but also the wider strengths of Cork for sports development and the capacity of the wider economy to enable the FAI into the future to maximise the potential of this centre’.

The FAI were keen to acknowledge that the development of such a facility would not be possible without the cooperation and hard work of all stakeholders, including the local business community in Cork, Cork County Council and key departments within government. They also highlighted that the development will at last provide appropriate infrastructure to foster and develop the football community in the Munster area.

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