 eichelmurphy-sports.a Welcome back. I'm joined in studio by Aidan Campbell marketing officer with Finn Harps and Ian Harkin the chairman of the club and of course the countdown continues to the long-awaited Jenny Gull community stadium and it's Evolvement in Stern-Orlar just a stone's throw away from the present ground a lot happening behind the scenes and Hopefully in the not-too-distant future Finn Harps will be playing at that new stadium We're going to be discussing more about that and Fundraising and a lot of the things going on behind the scenes very shortly But firstly I'm going to begin with Aidan and last night Aidan Harps getting a point which on the surface of things looked a good result against Bohemians 2-2 second time this season They've got a draw But I suppose disappointment as well because it could have been a victory as harps led in a late goal and then UCD Securing victory so harps are back at the bottom of the table the drama continues As you say going up to One of the biggest teams in the country getting a draw normally would be seen as a good night's work We're at the business end now and points are precious UCD have done, you know, they've had a good season and surprise a lot of people but they've got good young players and they've put it up to us, but I suppose if you go back to The start of the season or sorry that the end of last season when we had that fantastic night when we secured Our premier status against Longford and it was those fantastic scenes across the pitch with children and everybody else celebrating and I think a lot of people took that team to their hearts and Losing so many players in the preseason. I think we'd We lost 12 players and you always know when you've got good players because everybody else wants them and Trying to put a squad together The market was intensely difficult Leading up to this season. So there was always a danger that this season's team would be compared with that team and We, you know, when we did put a squad together, you're obviously taking in players that And that you know about that you think can do the job But you don't know until you actually start and it is very difficult to source a player Or it's becoming increasingly difficult who can compete at this level Being one of the two part-time clubs in this division because I think the UCD guys train As much as professional clubs and it's very difficult and I think Goddard Hoey the drawn out chairman has Come out and just articulate it really well what the challenges are So we've again coming down to the wire and that team last year incidentally I think they ended up with 44 points, which is extraordinary that went to the last game was a really competitive season, but so you know, we always knew it was going to go to the wire and This game next week. We always knew it was going to be a cup final Yeah, so really what we need to do is and get out there and Get that support behind us this week and just really emphasize the importance of supporters They have just been amazing True what has been a really really tough season. We haven't given them a lot to cheer about But they can make the difference next Friday and and let's not forget me last season a lot of people would have felt It was arguably Harp's best team in 20 years. Yeah played really well Ended up eighth in the table. So it was going to be difficult to get even eighth this season and I mean from early on You know, some people would have said well, you know getting into a playoff was probably the best that could be expected We're still in a situation now that at least going into the last home game There's something to play for and just to recap on the situation You CD have a game in hand and that's on Monday night. There's gonna be a lot of people looking at that Now from a harps point of view, obviously, they'll be hoping you CD slip up But irrespective of what happens there The fact of the matter is next Friday at Finn Park harps have to really beat you CD. I think so and you know what? There's no, you know, we won't sit here and make excuses. You CD are a good team They've got I think the management team there has done a great job But we know we've got players in our squad who've got the experience ability to go out and win that game and They're good enough to do it. I do think it will help a lot if we can, you know Get a big crowd of Finn Park get people really behind them and there's no reason why they can't go do the job It's a big week for us. We're coming to the end of our stadium draw as well and we're looking for support on that We'll be running a we're working with the we care food bank people along with the supporters club from Manchester City and Liverpool So a lot of preparations get made and there was huge disappointment after conceding that like go last night But you know once again when things are difficult on the pitch You really need people off the pitch to stand up and it is not easy. But again our volunteer base You know, we've got everything from designers to fundraisers so the people work in the office to people help us out We're on the ground and they've really stood up this season and it can be difficult when there's a bit of negativity out there, but It's just been absolutely fantastic support from both the supporters and our volunteers and I think that always has to be acknowledged. So Yeah, it comes down to that match. It's gonna be like a cup final so and of course after that harp still then have to travel to draw another last game of the season UCD's final matches against Shamrock grovers who may or may not have the league title wrapped up and then after all of that There can be a playoff at a neutral venue against the team Challenging to try and get up from the the first division. So there could be a lot more football to come Ian Harkin away from the actual on the pitch activities. We can talk about another pitch the Dundee goal community stadium project Fair to say it's it's gone on for quite a while. There's been a few final hurdles, but from your perspective now You know, you can see over the horizon. There is that there is a finish line there You can see the end of the tunnel. So just to update people. I mean, essentially There's the guts of sort of four million in in funding is pretty much there in place ring-fenced The County Council has come in the FAIs come in and harps have to through fundraising and loans and whatever else Make up that extra little bit of difference to get them over the final hurdle And we're talking about a sort of a six million euro project in total. Yeah, not far off it. Yeah Yeah, it's some it's somewhere in around five point eight at the moment. Yeah Yeah And so in terms of where we are with it at the moment We've submitted everything to the Department of Sport They've come back with a final list of about eight points that they want us to address and some of those are legalities with regards to a charge on the land for example that and some of those processes They're a little bit frustrating that they come in so late, but they they have to be done and There is a time Issue with those that it's just a process whatever so we're waiting where we were hoping to be actually Seeding the grass this year But we're kind of waiting on them to do their process on their side But all of the points that they have given us we're addressing those at the moment and Hopefully now in the next number of months we'll be getting the diggers on site right and the clubhouse this Monster draw as well as we can call it coming up this weekend 20,000 in cash the the top prize that vitally important that that people come out and this last push for for ticket sales no doubt Yeah, I mean it's the first in many steps that we'll be taking over the next number of years and It's very difficult as opposed to to start fundraising without knowing that you have the green light from the government to get things Going and without even seeing the diggers on site. So we've we started this process about a month or so ago with a Golf event over in London, which was hosted by a shea given and it was a huge success I suppose it was my first time going Going out fundraising for anything I suppose but and going over to London where We weren't really sure we knew that they have an affinity to towards the Gaelic and and going over there with Finn Harps We were absolutely astounded by how welcoming they were and how helpful The team over there from Donegal Association from Tony McFadden and Mark McMunnigal and those guys Really supported us they put on a magnificent event and shea himself Was a he was a star on the day now He got everybody to put their hand in their pocket and we did really well now in that first event So just how much pressure is there sort of on the club to fill that little gap because it is dependent on you need to Get this before the other pieces of the jigs saw all come in as well. There is yeah Yeah, and as a club as well as about prioritizing this this this stadium is And it's so important because it'll be the catalyst for change. It will allow us to generate improved revenues and Eventually that will manifest itself on the pitch in the future as well, but but it has to take priority In the short term so that we get it built Yeah, and I suppose until you know what division you're going to be in next season that will Influence things and in terms of getting sponsorship as well and that's that's a big factor It is a big factor. I mean, it's hugely important that that we stay in this division but I think there's like the Donegal community what I've seen over in London and Even yesterday I was I was invited to the opening of the facility there in convoy by the Donegal GAA And I went in there with my harps to hack it on and I didn't know what reception I would get but Everybody wants us to succeed Everybody wants us to have that facility in place and the Donegal community. It doesn't matter where they're in London Dublin Here in Donegal. They all want us They know that we've been through this for this last 20 years trying to build our facilities as as Donegal GAA Had the same issues as well in convoy It will be our new home and it will be state-of-the-art as well and it will be fan focused as well Some of the comments I was getting yesterday was that people want that entertainment that you know, first of all, they want to be sheltered and they want to You know, it has to be a Friday night experience about being in a venue that has atmosphere that has the food That has you know ease of access and food and drink and you know a proper night out And if we look at the stands, I mean the the plans have been tweaked slightly But we're talking about a a capacity of just over six thousand two covered seated stands Two covered terraces which at a future date could be converted for seating But I'm sure there's certainly quite a lot of fans who probably would prefer to stand. Yes So behind both goals now, they will be terraces and we are looking at potentially reducing that capacity slightly to get a higher grade rating on our stadium in order to do that We have to put some seats into the away end so Yeah, I mean the if you look at what's happening in Europe at the moment with in Germany where a lot of the stands are converting back to having Standing room behind the goals. That's something that That came out in our own research before we started this latest redesign and all going well and You know what as things stand now things can be subject to change but when Do you think harps could be in that new stadium? What what season are we talking about as things stand now? Yeah, well, we were hoping to be in at the beginning of of 2024 but it's looking like it'll be mid-season somewhere in around June July Yeah, and just bringing Aidan back in Aidan I know we spoke previously about other clubs and the lift that this will give the club Shamrock rovers not so long ago where we're nomads and I'm playing a talca park and in front of Hundreds rather than thousands. They've got a bounce. We look down the road Sligo have obviously upgraded their stadium they've plans as well in the brandy well and Probably don't talk one of the exceptions to the rule despite their recent success But even for the whole league, I mean it it helps There's a real sort of filter-down effect as well you know and it's extraordinary think that the you know the turf was first turned in 2007 and We're still here Which is unfortunate, but if you look at What talastadium did for Shamrock rovers? And you talk to the people there. I said the difference in running the club is night and day You're offering people good facilities As Ian said it gives you this that ability to create a match night experience Not just a football match where you've got the families you can look after your supporters who want the you know The more kind of traditional night out with the standing with the the design of the stadium was built for atmosphere Again, we've seen the season Chris and we'll go back to that Longford game again the amount of kids that were there There is a huge There's a huge need out there for For life up all and you know, it's not just about watching Football on the television we can have it right here in their county. So You know and then there's the the whole community aspect where we're working with organizations like Donegal Down syndrome the food bank this week We have kids from teams all over the county come do flag bears and you want to have the proper toilets You want to have the proper catering and we're talking about putting in a play area So families can come and they can put the kids there go enjoy the match get some nice food So it's all really positive not just for finn harps before the county and for a league of our own football. So it's imperative and that and Everybody comes together and really makes it happen because it's it's really going to be good for Donegal and On the football inside then obviously it just makes it that bit easier to attract players There's a lot of talk Long-term. Can you be a part-time club at the Premier League? I'm not sure you can and this will give us the platform to bring in those extra kind of revenues on sponsorship and fundraising to make that happen Yeah, and just a conscious of the clock here just in bringing in one more time and Hayden's touching it there, you know, let's face it the facilities at finn park haven't changed much since the early years and you know To bring new people to the game for for people to bring maybe kids or a girlfriend or a boyfriend You know people expect a certain standard of things. Yes, there's a huge amount of money going to be invested But you know unless you're competing and have the facilities You're against other sports as well and it's going to increase matchday revenue considerably. So that that's a factor going forward Yeah, I mean If you look at the gates that we were getting back in the 70s in the 1970s We entered we entered the league in 1969 right throughout the 70s We never were finished below Halfway down the table in the 70s and we were getting regular crowds of five six seven thousand peaking at ten thousand for the Celtic game in 1983 and That's the potential don't you go all people are sports mad and they're crying out for a facility, you know Somewhere to go on a on a Friday night I've no doubt like what when we do build it that the crowds will return and it is so important to get it People have expectations because they do travel over to England and they they know what's available over there And we need to match that on on a micro level, but It's possible and and finally just you know, it's going to be the dunnygall community stadium Primarily people are going to associate it with harps, but you know, hopefully there's going to be maybe underage Internationals and there could be concerts. There could be other sports I mean this is something this is going to be an asset for the whole of dunnygall and indeed the Northwest Absolutely. Yeah, it's it's you know, it's it can't be just something that's that's there. That's opened every second Second Friday it has to be used right throughout the year and generated in revenues Right throughout the year it will be an asset to the whole county Yeah, and finally, you know, I suppose a lot of people will you know until they see the diggers and a bit more concrete going in You know, that will give it a major boost in itself So that's something you you can confidently hear today You think you know, we're just what months away from the never been more confident Not not only just because of the where we are in the process But because of the goodwill that I'm seeing from lots of different people from from the minister from from the FAI from local Counselors everybody wants to get this done or fans as well So it's I've never been more confident that it will happen yet. Great. Well listen gentlemen there We leave it those tickets are on sale From club members you can buy them online as well and no doubt It'll be a few so just before kickoff next week also So in Harkin and Aidan Camel many. Thanks for coming into studio. We'll go for a break