FAI unveil €863m wish list after stark facilities audit

The Football Association of Ireland have published their strategic analysis and vision for the next 15 years, in which the organisation says it requires €863 million to modernise facilities and standards in Ireland.

The report details the infrastructure needs of the sport, with the FAI admitting football has fallen behind the vast majority of Europe in terms of stadia and training facilities.

The €863m sought is over a 15-year period and focuses on the three core areas of grassroots (€426m), League of Ireland (€390m) and international (€47m), and with a proposed funding approach from both public and private sources.

The grassroots investment is for new pitches, upgrades to existing pitches, new and upgraded clubhouses and more multi-sport, community-focused facilities as well as the formation of eight new FAI grassroots regions.

The body say the particular concern at grassroots level is for women's and girls' football "which has experienced exponential growth in popularity but will suffer without investment in facilities, as they will not be able to cater for ongoing demand and growth".

In the report, every county is audited in terms of pitch facilities. Nearly 40% of pitches have temporary dressing-rooms or toilets.

Over 20% of clubs spend less than €1,000 on pitch maintenance per year.

Less than a quarter of shower facilities are 'female friendly' (individual cubicle), if even available.

The report also details Irish football's growing reliance on the League of Ireland, which now develops players from the age of Under-13 and often younger, compared to junior and intermediate clubs in the past.

The FAI say the investment would also support the development of talent in a post-Brexit environment as more young players remain in