TOWN FC LAUNCH £.5M DEVELOPMENT PLAN

LONGFORD Town FC is to embark on its most ambitious project and has called on the people of county Longford to 'Stand up and be counted' when they launched their fundraising campaign on Monday night to raise £300,000 towards a £550,000 development at their grounds at the Strokestown Road.

By David Power

Longford currently lead the eircom First Division and are pushing hard for promotion. If they do win promotion then the ground as it stands only passes one of 12 League rules in the blueprint for the eircom League for all National League Grounds. It was pointed out that the desire to provide a new 1,500 seat stand is not merely to comply with the league rules but to put in place a facility befitting their Premier League Status if it is achieved. It was also stressed that it is no more than manager Stephen Kenny and his players currently deserve.

"This is a turning point for us. We hope to have a ground that the whole county is proud of," Longford Town Chairman, Adrian Duncan said. "The FAI will be supportive and will do everything in our power to make Longford achieve their aims," commented FAI President Pat Quigley.

"This will be more than just a stand, it will be a legacy to the people of Longford," Longford Town manger Stephen Kenny said. The development at the ground will see a number of improvements and additions at the ground. Work is due to begin on an astro-turf all-weather area which is expected to be self-financing shortly.

As part of the fund-raising, seats are being offered for sale for ten years, five years and on a one year basis.