Recently, at the club’s annual marquee event, the Mini World Cup, we announced that Knocklyon United have signed a 20 year licence agreement with St Colmcille’s Community School to have sole use of the Astro pitch and changing facilities. Not only that but in the coming weeks, the pitch will undergo a redevelopment and resurfacing ensuring the club will have a state-of-the-art surface to train and play on for the foreseeable future.

Pictured above signing the 20 year licence agreement are Dave Buggy, Chairman, Mr John McKennedy, Principal of St Colmcilles Community School and Colm Byrne, Club Development Officer.

Due to the club’s increasing numbers, winter training and the logistics around it has always been a challenge due to our restricted time on the Astro historically. This licence agreement allows the club to maximise it’s use of the facility and lessens the impact of scheduling winter training times. The ever-growing partnership with the school also means the club will be in a position to use the newly refurbished dressing rooms and toilets on site.

Speaking at the announcement, Dave Buggy Chairman of Knockloyn United said, "to have a facility like this is a significant step in bringing the club to the next level. We are delighted St Colmcille’s Community School saw the potential in this facility and what it means to the community, backing us to make it a reality. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all parties for their dedication and effort in getting this agreement over the line."

John McKennedy, School Principal said, Since it’s establishment in the year 2000 St Colmcille’s Community School has been, not just a centre of academic excellence, but also a centre for the community of Knocklyon, facilitating a wide range of sporting and cultural activities for young people as well as a comprehensive Adult Education Programme for adults. From the outset the school’s vision was to develop its facilities in conjunction with local community based clubs and groups for shared use by the students and the local community.In 2005 the school developed an all weather Astro pitch in conjunction with a commercial company as local clubs were not in a position to co-fund the project at that time. It was always the school’s desire that this facility would eventually be shared with a local club. There were a number of attempts over the years to secure Knocklyon United Soccer Club as the permanent tenant on this facility and I am delighted that at last this has been achieved. I have enjoyed very positive relationships with all the club’s officers I have worked with over the past 20 years and in particular Mr. Dave Buggy the current chairperson of the club. Dave has been focussed, creative and determined not just to secure the Astro Pitch for the club’s future but to upgrade it to a state of the art facility for its members and for the students of the school.

The school has just completed an exciting new building project which includes changing rooms, showers and toilets located directly beside the Astro Pitch. This will greatly enhance the experience of all club members on training nights and match days. I very much look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship between the club and the school well into the future and I take this opportunity to once thank Mr Dave Buggy and his committee for their vision and professionalism in finally completing this joint venture with the school.

Our current Club Executive Pictured at our Mini World following the signing of the new astro agreeement with St Colmcilles Community School. From l to r, Colm Byrne, Club Development Officer, Dave Buggy, Chairman, Mr John McKennedy, Principal St Colmcilles Community School,  Kevin Brady,Assistant Club Development Officer,  Amanda Mowlds, Child Welfare Officer, Eamonn Power, Treasuer, and Barry Redmond, Assistant Treasuer..

The next phase of the project to is to completely resurface the astro turf, bringing the pitch up to FIFA standards. The club's astro team have already begun the planning of this process consulting 3rd parties and planning start dates.

The new surface will allow the club house matches all the way up to senior level going forward, something the club has sought for a very long time.

The club are eternally grateful to CRH for supporting the club in securing this new facility to the benefit of not just Knocklyon United but also the local community.

Knocklyon United as a club has always had huge ambitions and thanks to this new facility, the foundations have been set so the club can go a long way to fulfilling them.
Team KUFC