Following on from their famous win over Athenry on penalties in last weekends Connacht Junior Cup final in Terryland Park, there was some more good news surrounding Westport United this week.
Two of Westport’s most famous institutions – Westport United Football Club and Westport House – are at an advanced stage in negotiations, which if concluded successfully, has the potential to realise international class sporting facilities for Westport United on the grounds of the world famous Westport House. The 13 acre site at the centre of the discussions is located close to the newly developed Gaelscoil na Cruaiche on the Golf Course Road and it has the capacity to include a number of international playing pitches, training pitches, and a clubhouse.
Kevin Cusack, chairman of the Westport United Development Committee, confirmed negotiations were in progress in relation to the purchase of the site and he is hopeful there will be a positive outcome. He paid tribute to the Browne family for the manner in which all negotiations in relation to the purchase of the site have been conducted. “We’re at an advanced stage but there are still some very important matters to be sorted and of course, any deal will be contingent on planning permission,” he said.
Westport United celebrated its centenary last year. The club has won every major honour at adult level in its history and is rightly regarded as one of the leading junior soccer clubs in Ireland. Currently there are close to 400 registered footballers within the club and the importance of acquiring and developing new facilities cannot be overstated, according to Kevin Cusack. “This process has taken between 10 and 15 years. The men and women who developed the sports park were visionaries and they left us a magnificent facility but in terms of the numbers now playing the sport, we need a much larger venue to be able to cater properly,” he said. If Westport United and Westport House conclude their negotiations successfully and the club develop their new facilities there it will not be the first time the two bodies have come together. During the nineteen eighties, when the sports park was being re-developed, the underage teams of the club played all their home matches on the grounds of Westport House. The pitch was located beside where the tennis courts are located today.
Mayo to host u13 international Super Cup
This summer soccer lovers in the county will have more than Euro 2012 to look forward to. They also have the Mayo International Soccer Super Cup which will take place, from August 27 to 27. This tournament will be for boys at the u13 grade, with a Mayo selection playing clubs from England. As this is the first time that this competition will be taking place, it will be confined to four teams.
Already three clubs from across the water have confirmed that they will be participating. It is hoped that games will be played in Castlebar, Ballyglass, Ballina Swinford and Manulla. The visiting teams are all well known, and the games should be of a very high standard. The names of the clubs involved will be released at a Launch of the Mayo International Super Cup, which takes place in June.
