SLIGO Rovers hope to have floodlighting at the
Showgrounds fully operational within the next three weeks,
the Chairman of the Rovers Development Committee, Mr.
Ray Gallagher has said.<br><br>Rovers are also
expecting delivery of 1,800 top quality new seats from
Spain for the western stand, which will be completed
with press and corporate hospitality facilities in the
near future. The seats are similar to those in
Longford’s Flancare Park.<br><br>Plans are already in place
to hold an open day at the end of September to give
fans the chance to view the new facility, which also
includes state-of-the-art dressing rooms, built to
U.E.F.A. specifications.<br><br>It is also intended to
remove the existing entrance and perimeter wall and to
replace it with a new entrance, recessed at least fifteen
metres and with six new turnstiles.<br><br>Drainage work
is now taking place prior to the construction of a
car park, with access from the lower Church Hill
gates.<br><br>“We want to have facilities on a par, if not better,
than most in the country. We hope to see the
floodlights operational within three weeks and work on the
installation of the seats in the western stand will commence
as soon as they are delivered,” Mr. Gallagher told a
special information meeting for club members on Monday
night last.<br><br>The Development Committee Chairman
confirmed that Rovers have also applied for planning
permission for the construction of an all-weather pitch at
the Showgrounds and Mr. Gallagher stated that a
clubhouse at the Showgrounds was also
“essential”.<br><br>“The club certainly needs a focal point and a
clubhouse would not alone generate funds, but would be a
very welcome addition and could house social functions
and other events,” he added.<br><br>Mr. Gallagher,
who recently travelled to Holland to view facilities
at similar sized grounds to the Showgrounds,
explained that the new western stand would have the best
wheelchair and disabled facilities available.<br><br>He said
the central section of the stand would be reserved
for shareholders.<br><br>Discussions were also
on-going with Sligo Corporation with a view to
establishing an integrated development plan for sport and
amenity facilities in the general area of the
Showgrounds, Mr. Gallagher added.