Updated: Wednesday, 3rd March, 2010 4:45pm

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Make a stand for Ballinlough

by John Donohoe

As Lansdowne Road looks forward to being re-opened as the Aviva Stadium in a sponsorship branding of the newly developed stadium, Ballinlough GFC have embarked on a similar naming idea for its proposed new stand at Pairc An Locha.

The club recently received planning permission for a state-of-the-art stand, with a chequered-plated, modern design and a seating capacity of over 350.

The stand will have wheelchair access and a presentation podium, and outside of the county ground in Navan, the Donaghmore-Ashbourne facilities and Castletown, the Ballinlough club would be one of the very few grounds in the county with a stand if the ambitious project succeeds.

Ballinlough chairman Seamus McGee has described the project as an exciting one, and is happy that the club has got this far with it, passing the planning stage.

Following the example of the IRFU and FAI at Lansdowne, he is hopeful of finding a sponsor who would like to contribute the lion's share of the cost of building the stand, in return for the naming rights.

"There might be someone involved in business, either at home or abroad, or indeed in an individual capacity, who might be interested in sponsoring the stand and naming it after a loved one or a company," stated the chairman.

He is aware that in recessionary times, this might be a tall order, but there is no harm in throwing the idea out there to see if there is any interest, he believes. It is estimated it would cost in the region of €80,000 to construct.

Meath Co Committee has pledged to part-finance the cost, and has promised that the Meath team would be available to take part in any commemorative opening game.

The present club grounds were part of the Rotherham Estate and were acquired from the Land Commission in 1951, when a six and a half acre pitch was purchased for £285.

An official opening of the Ballinlough football pitch took place in September 1976 and in the years following, further development took place.

In 1993 the entrance to the football pitch was completed and was marked by Meath playing Derry in a challenge. Further development has taken place in the intervening years, the clubhouse and dressing rooms have been refurbished and the pitch size increased. New floodlights were installed and Ballinlough football pitch now has a lighting system to compete with the very best in the county.

Ballinlough GFC has been affiliated with the Co Board since 1938.

The club is represented from juvenile up to intermediate level, where its first team competes. In 1939 championship success visited Ballinlough when an exciting young team captained by the late Jack Connell won a title.

Ballinlough were relegated to the intermediate championship in 2007 following a 16-year stint in senior football. The club enjoyed a successful year in 2008, reaching the semi-final of the intermediate championship and earning promotion to A FL Div 2.

Some of its higher profile players over the years have included the late Mattie McDonnell, who won All-Ireland medals with Meath in 1949 and '54, and in more recent years Jody Devine, who earned the reputation as a 'super-sub' in the Boylan era as well as current Meath player Peadar Byrne.

For more information on the stand proposal, contact the chairman at (086) 863 0985 or email seamus.mcgee@nch. com