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Laois Club Announce New Pitch

Thursday, 22 December 2022 16:31

The football club's juvenile committee say they worked with local representatives, members of the senior club and parents of players.

The future prospects of soccer in Laois has received a boost this week.

Abbeyleix AFC have announced the development of a new playing pitch on the outskirts of the town.

The football club's juvenile committee say they worked with local representatives, members of the senior club and parents of players.

Fundraising for "phase one" of their efforts will begin in the New Year with a target of fifty thousand euro.

Here is the club's statement in full:

Abbeyleix AFC juvenile committee is delighted to formally announce the development of a new playing pitch on the outskirts of the town, adjacent to the former Stonearch facility. 

This ground breaking moment for the club is the fruition of months of hard work by the committee with assistance aplenty from our local representatives, members of the senior club and indeed parents of our young players who have shared advice and knowhow in their particular fields of expertise. 

The one common goal among all is to secure the future of soccer for boys and girls in our community. 

The club is extremely indebted to the land owner Billie White who has been to the forefront in negotiations and commitments to provide the community with additional facilities which will no doubt be of great benefit to countless boys & girls for many decades to come. 

We would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Billie.

Formed in 1950 the club competes to an excellent standard with remarkable success over the years at Fr Breen Park which became the club's home circa 1962. Prior to this the club first played their games at Killamuck and remarkably in 1960 were located in almost the exact location of the new pitch being developed, seeing the club come almost full circle some sixty odd years later.

The juvenile club currently caters for in excess of 170 boys and more recently 45 girls playing on 3 all girls teams bringing the total to 14 teams across age groups from 7 to 16 years of age. The desire and need to secure additional playing areas has long since been on the agenda and as above it is hoped the future of the game for all will be secured in the years & indeed decades to come in light of this new development. 

As with any undertaking of this scale there will be considerable cost implications. Phase 1 is estimated to cost in the region of €50,000. The club are working on a series of initiatives into the new year aimed at fundraising, all are very thankful in advance for any support available from our community and indeed those living further afield. 

Local businesses who feel they can contribute or wish to get involved in any form going forward are encouraged to get in touch with any of the committee or direct to Club Treasurer Mick Moran on 0872765871.

With the above in mind we are kicking off the first of our fundraising drives with a Go fund me page, donations of any amount will be very gratefully received and will go a long way to seeing boys and girls out enjoying the game on the new pitch in the very near future.

You can support the club's efforts through their Go Fund Me page here.

 

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