Infrastructure meeting for FORAS members
Following Cork County Council’s decision to lease a 30-acre site to the FAI in Glanmire, FORAS members have been invited to hear more details about the planned FAI Regional Centre of Excellence on Leeside. The facility is to become a permanent training base for the Rebel Army.
The information meeting will take part this Friday evening in the Metropole Hotel from 8pm, and details of discussions will be available for trustees afterwards.
Commenting on Monday’s announcement at the club’s weekly press conference, Cork City FC boss John Caulfield said: “We’re all disappointed when we lose a match and we’re all elated when we win a match, but this is the biggest news in the history of this club.
“(Cork City) has been here over 30 years and we’ve never had a training base. We had a base for a short period in Bishopstown – a venture that went sour – (so) if you look at the history of Cork soccer, this is big news for everyone with an interest in it.
“For Cork City supporters but also the people outside of that involved with Schoolboys, AUL and Senior Leagues, we will have a Centre of Excellence in Cork with young players getting the best facilities going forward.
“Cork City, as the main tenant, will be able to offer their young players and first-team players the best facilities, and I think it is the biggest news in the history of the club.
“As a manager, I need to have a first team that’s competitive and up there at the top competing in Europe but, more importantly, the club needs to be bringing young players through because the ethos of the club is to have the core of our players from our own area.
“People cannot underestimate how big this announcement is. I believe it will transform this club.”