Irish soccer legends join in celebrations at St. Joseph's
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UP TO 800 people flocked to the St. Joseph's AFC grounds in Kilmuckridge last week to celebrate the official opening of the new €750,000 development of the club.
Of course there was the small matter of a visit from soccer legends Packie Bonner and Ray Houghton and the CEO and President of the FAI a well, so it made for quite a remarkable day in the history of the club.
FAI Chief Executive John Delaney was invited to cut the ribbon on the new indoor Astroturf training area and clubhouse extension.
The work included new toilets; a new reception area; a new home dressing room; meeting rooms, and a treatment room.
FAI President David Blood officially opened the two new playing pitches at the grounds. The facility now has three pitches for the club's 21 teams, as well as the indoor training area.
All the work was paid for by local fundraising, and National Lottery grants. St. Joseph's Chairman Sean Keane said that the FAI visitors were very impressed with the new facilities.
Mr. Delaney also brought along a cheque for €5,000 for the club, as well as 50 tickets for the Andorra match. He also extended an invitation to four of the club's founding members to the Presidential reception before the game. Patrick Farrell Snr.; Michael Breen; John Hammel; and Fintan Farrell were all invited up to Dublin for the reception.
Sean Keane said the club was delighted with how the day went. ' The FAI were gentlemen and mixed well with the crowd,' he said. ' The day went fantastically well.'
- FINTAN LAMBE
