The Oscar Traynor Centre (Irish: Ionad Oscar Mac Thréinfhir) is an association football venue in Coolock, Northside, Dublin, Ireland. The ground has been home to Women's National League club Bohemians since 2020.
 | |
  Oscar Traynor Centre Location within Dublin | |
| Full name | Oscar Traynor Coaching and Development Centre |
|---|---|
| Former names | AFL Centre |
| Location | Coolock, County Dublin |
| Coordinates | 53°23′46″N 6°13′38″W / 53.3962°N 6.2272°W |
| Owner | The Oscar Traynor Coaching and Development Centre Co. Ltd. |
| Operator | Amateur Football League, North Dublin Schoolboys/girls League |
| Capacity | 1000[1] |
| Surface | Artificial turf[1] |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1985 |
| Renovated | 2001 |
| Construction cost | €688,000 (1985) |
| Tenants | |
| Bohemians (WNL) | |
In September 1985 Jim Tunney officially opened the AFL Coaching and Development Centre, which had been constructed by Dublin's Amateur Football League (AFL) at a cost of approximately €688,000.[2] The venue underwent significant expansion in 2001, when the North Dublin Schoolboys/girls League (NDSL) agreed to pool resources with the AFL. Floodlights, additional all-weather pitches and a separate club house elevated the facility to "a centre of coaching and soccer excellence".[3]
In January 2012 the Evening Herald reported that the Oscar Traynor Centre "faced an uncertain future", as the AFL and NDSL were in dispute and the directors of the loss-making separate company running the centre had resigned.[4] The NDSL subsequently entered into an arrangement with Bohemian FC in June 2013, which gave the League of Ireland club access to the Oscar Traynor Centre facilities.[5] When Bohemians launched a senior Women's National League club in 2020 they based them at the Oscar Traynor Centre instead of at the main Dalymount Park stadium.[citation needed]
The ground is situated on the road from Coolock to Santry, which is named for former Football Association of Ireland President Oscar Traynor.[citation needed]
International
editIn June 2005 the Republic of Ireland women's national football team defeated the Faroe Islands 2–1 at the Oscar Traynor Centre, both goals scored by Carmel Kissane.[6] The Republic of Ireland under-15 boys team beat Finland 1–0 at the Oscar Traynor Centre in April 2013.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b "Oscar Traynor Centre". Soccerway. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
- ^ "AFL - Amateur Football League". Soccer-Ireland.com. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
- ^ Feery, Niall (8 October 2001). "All-weather pitches putt out golfers". The Herald (Ireland). p. 53.
- ^ "Crisis Point - Future of OTCDC must be secured for the football family". The Herald (Ireland). 30 January 2012. p. 81.
- ^ Brady, Ger (24 June 2013). "Bohs' Oscar Traynor link-up". The Herald (Ireland). Retrieved 22 August 2020.
- ^ "Irish Women bound for Moscow". RISSC.org. June 2005. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
- ^ "Irish U15s beat Finland in Friendly at Oscar Traynor Centre". Football Association of Ireland. 16 April 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2020.