The pre-season period can be a frustrating one as clubs search for the right kind of pitches that have not been waterlogged or destroyed by inclement weather conditions. So the option of using the FAI National Training Centre, for free, is a bonus.
The pre-season period can be a frustrating one as clubs search for the right kind of pitches that have not been waterlogged or destroyed by inclement weather conditions. So the option of using the FAI National Training Centre, for free, is a bonus.
Bohemians and Shelbourne kicked off a full schedule of pre-season friendlies involving SSE Airtricity League clubs with a game under lights, before Cork City faced Finn Harps on the artificial surface the next day.
The award-winning FAI National Training Centre has been opened since August 2015 and is used by Republic of Ireland international teams, DDSL and schoolboy teams, Football For All, Coach Education, and Refereeing. There are six full-size pitches (five grass, one artificial) with floodlighting, a specialised goalkeeping training area, and dressing rooms.
So far, eight different League clubs have taken up the offer of using the top class Training Centre and those games will be spread out over the pre-season period.
Unfortunately, there are currently no facilities in place to cater for supporters for these games, so, for health & safety reasons, they must remain behind closed doors.
