New Field Development

As most people are aware by now our application for Sport’s Capital Funding proved very successful when on Wednesday November 29th we got official notification that we have been provisionally allocated €72,500 in grant assistance.

We now need to get formal written approval, to do that we have to meet certain requirements and conditions as laid down by the department, such as getting three comparable quotations for each aspect of the works being funded, these quotations will then be assessed by the department.

Once that is done and all the required paperwork is submitted we will then at last be able to proceed with fencing the whole site and installing the full size regulation pitch as well as the training pitch. In the event the clerk of the weather is kind to us it can be assumed work will be able to begin in the first quarter of 2018.

With a ‘spend’ to date of €240K the next phase of the development will require considerable funds to complete it, with a rough estimated cost being in the region of €300K.

So while the grant assistance of €72,500 is very welcome and something we are extremely grateful for, without our own fundraising such as the weekly Lotto and the ‘Swan 12 Days of Christmas Draw’ we could not even contemplate a project of this magnitude.

The draw is now firmly on our calendar for this and future ‘club development’ years, all in the club are extremely grateful to those who purchased tickets at home or abroad. To the people that went out and sold tickets, a massive thank you, without you it could not happen.

The real work begins now however, as we gather up all the expertise required to ensure the development when finished will be something we can all take tremendous pride in.

The day when the black and white jerseys of the Swan will adorn the field at Ballyrichard Road has moved ever closer, thank you.

Sean O’Shea

Club Development Officer.