Featured image credit: League of Ireland
League of Ireland Premier Division football club Drogheda United has acquired its Weavers Park stadium from the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and detailed plans to build a new home venue.
The stadium was originally sold to the FAI in the late 1980s with a repurchase option. Drogheda United said that the support shown by the FAI over the past several decades has been “instrumental” in maintaining the solvency and integrity of the club.
The acquisition has been executed through a direct equity capital injection from United’s owners, the Trivela Group, and ensures that the club is now the sole owner of the stadium, unburdened by any debt.
Following the completion of the deal, United has announced a commitment to deliver a new stadium in the Drogheda area within a reasonable timeframe. Initial work is already underway.
Joanna Byrne, co-chairperson of Drogheda United, said: “This is a momentous day for Drogheda United – we are now finally in control of our own facilities and our own destiny as a football club. We will continue to welcome supporters to the ground in the interim and work diligently to develop a new stadium for the club and community.”
Mark Scanlon, director of the League of Ireland, added: “Today marks a landmark day for Drogheda United FC and we are pleased to be able to agree to the club’s acquisition of Weavers Park which will provide the next significant step in the growth of League of Ireland football in Drogheda.
“We’d like to thank everyone at Drogheda United and the Trivela Group for their important and diligent work in reaching this point. With attendances rising at a tremendous rate over recent seasons as well as the growth of the male and female teams at the club, the opportunity is there for the club to build the infrastructure which is extremely necessary to help the club realise its true potential in becoming an even bigger cornerstone of the community in Drogheda. We look forward to working with everyone at Drogheda United for the future of League of Ireland football in the area.”
Drogheda United celebrated the acquisition with a 2-1 home victory against Bohemians yesterday (Monday). Weavers Park, also known as United Park, has a capacity of 3,500.
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