The next step for the development team is to submit a planning application.
Footballers in the midlands could soon to able to avail of a new centre of excellence.
The Midlands Schoolboys and Girls League has aqcuired 27 acres of land for construction of the new state-of-the-art facility in Clara.
Players and coaches will have access to multiple new pitches, both grass and artificial, dressing rooms, classrooms, a gym and video analysis rooms.
As of now, there are no FAI-certified full-sized astro turf pitches in Laois or Offaly.
The MSL will now move towards submitting a planning application for the major development.
Soccer has been well behind the GAA in terms of facilities, but a new centre of excellence in the midlands aims to change that.
The next step in the five million euro development is to submit a planning application.
Mr. Collins explains where the money is expected to come from:
Hon. Secretary of the MSL Derek Collins said:
“This proposed development is going to be a significant advantage to players and coaches from the midlands area. We now have close to 5,500 players playing in our area. It will hopefully allow us to see more and more players from the area go on to play at the top level of football, both home and abroad, and will cement our place as one of the top regions in the country for both player and coach development allowing each and everyone to maximise their full potential.”
The league will not be imposing any extra financial burden on our clubs and the league will form a fundraising committee. Through that committee, and grants from government bodies and a main sponsor, we hope to develop the land over several years in stages. At present the league is paying between €40,000.00 to €45.000.00 per season in the hire of grounds to train and play matches for all our ETP squads".
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