Stadium Looks good for July

Despite a ten day 'holiday' in March for the builders, due to a delay in Rovers recieving their government grant, the project is ahead of schedule and Hoops worldwide can look forward to a summer move southside, possibly playing in the UEFA cup.

After years of delays and setbacks the sight all Rovers fans had been waiting for-JCBs working on the stadium site in Tallaght- began on Wednesday, 19th April, 2000. Further good news for Hoops followers is the approval of a £480,000 grant from the FAI(the first in Rover's history) and the promise of another £600,000 grant from Bertie to help Joe Colwell and Rovers attain their dream of a new home for Shamrock Rovers.

An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, turned the first sod of turf on Rover's new ground. The event, the official commencement of work on the stadium, took place on Thursday, 30th March. Bertie has backed Joe Colwell's plan to build a home for Rovers in Tallaght from the outset.

The plans for the stadium are now being dusted down and the building of the first phase will begin immediately. The first phase will cost £2 million pounds, with the money, already in place, being put up by the club's backers. It will encorporate a main stand(3,000 seats), a clubhouse, club offices and a clubshop, aswell as a perimeter fence and a car park(800 spaces). Phases 2 and 3 of the project, costing in the region of £5 million, will be funded by money from the government, the National Lottery and the F.A.I. This will involve completion of the seating(three stands bringing the capacity up to 6,000)and improving the clubhouse facilities.