*Photograph: Eamon Ward
A JOINT FACILITY SHARED between Clare’s district soccer and schoolboys/schoolgirls leagues is needed.
In his final address as Treasurer of the CSSL, Bunratty’s Cathal Jones felt it was time for both leagues to stop talking and act on delivering a training facility.
€4,950 was paid out by the CSSL for pitch rental in accounts running up to the end of October 2022 while for the same period last year the fee was €4,525.
“We give a silly amount of money to Lees Rd each year,” Cathal remarked when discussing the accounts. “We do need a joint facility that covers all of Clare soccer so that the money we’re currently giving to the Council could be used to pay off something we own. It has been talked about for the last few years, we’re giving €12,000 to Lees Rd purely for training”.
While offering some suggestions, Jones maintained a signature annual fundraiser was required for the CSSL. “We will be looking at a larger development with the CDSL and with that we will have to look at a signature fundraiser at a time when the clubs are not looking to make money”.
FAI Football Development Officer, Denis Hynes challenged the CSSL Committee to get access to the new hall in Ennis Community College stressing that it was “in the heart of Ennis”.
Hynes encouraged club officers to start dabbling in local politicking with their county councillor in 2023. “We’ve developed closer links with the Council, yes we’re paying for Lees Rd but at a discounted rate. Promote your own club when you meet your local councillor, the Council’s position in relation to sport can flick, they were under pressure on Budget to cut community grants”.
