Development of first full-size synthetic grass pitch underway in Templemore

BT Harps FC are bravely going where no football club in North Tipperary has gone before.

By Gary Culbert

Diggers moved in on Sunday evening as Cashel based JNC Premier Pitches commenced work on Monday on a full-size synthetic grass pitch at in Michael Fennell Park. In twelve weeks’, time weeks, the town of Templemore will be home to the only FIFA certified full-size artificial pitch in county Tipperary.

At a special general meeting last Thursday in Templemore, BT Harps chairperson Philip Ryan explained how the idea for a full-size artificial pitch started four or five years ago, but at that time the club did not have the required space in their grounds at Priory Place. However, committee member Richie Kennedy worked tirelessly to acquire the extra land needed and was successful thanks to the help of councillor Shane Lee.

Why an artificial surface?

Once the extra land adjacent to Michael Fennell Park was secured for a second full-size pitch, the BT Harps committee had to decide between an artificial surface, or the much cheaper option of natural grass.

The feedback that the committee were getting continuously was that so many matches were being cancelled at underage and junior level, and that this wasn’t just at BT Harps, but other clubs as well. Experts within the FAI were consulted and agreed that the club should invest heavily in a top of the range facility.

BT Harps applied for planning permission and were given the green light in November 2023. Their application got no objections; the people of Templemore were happy to see the club and indeed the town trying to do something huge, something that had not been done before in North Tipperary. The feedback was that this was a real positive step that would be huge for the town of Templemore and its hinterlands.

Funding

When the committee initially put the project out to tender back in 2023, they were a bit taken aback by the €750,000 price tag that some companies were asking, but then JNC Premier Pitches from Cashel came in with a much more competitive bid in the region of €600,000. This was a figure that the committee felt they could work towards, but the question for BT Harps now was: how were they going to pay for it?

In 2024, committee members Deirdre Ryan, Karen O'Reilly, John Brophy, and Richie Kennedy all put a huge amount of work into an application for a government Sports Capital grant, which after an appeal, saw BT Harps awarded €357,000 in November 2024.

Harps were originally in the ‘local’ grant category, meaning they could receive a sum up to €200,000. However, with the help of letters of support from the FAI, and an expression of interest from North Tipperary DL and SFL to use the facility, the club’s application was assessed under the ‘regional’ category. Jackie Cahill TD, Micheal Lowry TD, and county councillors Michael Smith and Shane Lee all helped the club during the grant process.

Like many football clubs in North Tipperary, the next organisation that BT Harps turned to was Clann Credo, the not-for-profit community sports loan fund. Unlike traditional lenders, they only lend to projects that will have positive social impact on the community, and they do not penalise for early repayment of the loan.

Clann Credo agreed to loan €180,000 to BT Harps, who will rely on fundraising to make up the total of the project. The first of which is a GoFundMe page, which has received donations just shy of €10,000 since its launch two weeks ago.

You can donate to the generational project at https://gofund.me/0441c182. Alternatively, some local businesses have donated via cheque or other means, to discuss these options contact committee member Richie Kennedy 0879323203.

Keeping it local

During the tender process, Cashel Based JNC Premier Pitches “were the most attentive; they really showed they wanted the project” and ultimately won the contract.

Tipperary senior hurling manager Liam Cahill is the brand ambassador for the company, who have successfully completed artificial grass projects for a host of clubs and organisations across North Tipperary, such as Kilruane MacDonaghs GAA, Borrisokane Community College, Nenagh College and Thurles CBS.

JNC Premier Pitches use the ‘ACT Global’ brand of synthetic grass, which is already present in five other full-size artificial pitches across Ireland, such as Newbridge Town FC and Thomastown United FC.

One of a kind in North Tipperary

With help of FAI representatives, BT Harps have been able to plan their development in a way that satisfies criteria set by FIFA, meaning the pitch will achieve either ‘FIFA Quality’ or ‘FIFA Quality Pro’ status, and appear in the FIFA pitch database.

There are currently 91 ‘Quality’ artificial pitches in the Republic of Ireland, but only 8 ‘Quality Pro’ pitches on the island of Ireland while Cahir Park AFC boast the only other ‘FIFA Quality’ full-size artificial surface pitch in Tipperary.

In order to obtain FIFA certification, the artificial surface must pass a test in the laboratory prior to installation, and another test on site after installation. Both tests must be carried out by a FIFA-accredited bodies. The initial certification costs €3,000 and lasts a period of three or five years, at which point another test is required. The finished surface will be at a standard so high that it, in theory, is in line with what is required for international matches between UEFA nations or for international club competitions.

The BT Harps committee duo of Richie Kennedy and David Bourke have visited over 25 artificial pitches across Ireland in the past few months to get ideas. The new pitch will be 100 metres long from end line to end line, which is almost 10 metres longer than BT’s current pitch. Whilst it will be 61 metres wide, meaning the long throw may no longer be an option for teams in the NT&DL!

A more competitive BT Harps at all age groups

One of the reasons that BT Harps opted to have an artificial pitch was that they saw how their underage teams struggling to adapt to it when they played away in National Cup competitions, often finding themselves two or three goals down before they get to grips with the full-size synthetic pitch.

Also, the floodlights on the new pitch will see Harps have the ability to work their kick-off times and days around other competing sports, which is more relevant than ever given the upcoming introduction of the FAI’s calendar season structure at all age groups.

In the NT&DL for example, clubs like Rearcross and Moneygall have benefitted from the flexibility of midweek/night kick-offs, and Harps plan to do the same to work around fixtures of their players playing other sports.

Club Chairperson Richie Kennedy concluded Thursday’s special general meeting by recalling a statistic from one of his meetings with FAI representatives: any club who builds a full size artificial pitch can expect an increase in membership anywhere between 300 to 600 people. The increased capacity already has the Templemore club planning to increase their summer camp numbers by 50 kids this year!

Sponsorship

BT Harps are currently looking for a main title sponsor of the new full-size artificial pitch at Priory Place and will also be in the market for a quad-bike or small tractor to brush the new surface. Contact committee member Richie Kennedy 0879323203 for more information on sponsoring any part of the project.