Avondale United as a club ready to enjoy the benefits of their new facilities

There is a real sense of excitement around Avondale United Football Club these days. 

After more than two years of hard work, planning, fundraising, and no small amount of patience, the club’s brand-new facilities in Beaumont are now nearing completion. 

The new development represents more than just bricks and mortar; it is a statement of intent from a club determined to match its rich history with modern infrastructure and ambitions for the future. 

Club chairman Joe Plunkett is proud of the developments at the club.

“The new dressing rooms in Beaumont are very near completion.

"These will provide high quality dressing rooms, toilets, storage, kitchen and communal area for our players, U6-U16 boys and girls, coaches, parents and volunteers,” said Plunkett. 

"We are going the extra mile with the finishing touches and are very excited about the final result. We added a spectator area to the front that is a great addition. 

"They have taken roughly two and a half years in total for various reasons, including two planning applications, two grand applications and the challenge of rising costs that we are all too familiar with. 

"Through it all, our committee and sub-committee remained committed, working closely with John Sweetnam Construction, whose professionalism and collaboration have been key to getting the job done.

“We are in the process of selling Avondale Park, our land in Carrigaline.

"We have secured new land on the Carrigrohane Road which we will develop into a state of the art facility to cater for our youths and adult section which is thriving at the moment with our first senior ladies team taking to the pitch this year and going on to win the league. 

"A great milestone for the club and a fantastic achievement for the players, manager Mark O'Riordan and his coaching team.

“Anthony Wolfe is the manager of our senior men's team and in his second season. 

"He has been fantastic for the club and we are delighted to have him and look forward to another exciting Munster senior league Premier division season.” 

Like any club, Plunkett knows the importance of volunteers and was quick to praise all those associated with the club.

“Our volunteers are fantastic, hard working, decent people who give up their time to make our club great and what it is today. 

"Every club needs volunteers but when you see people coming back year after year you know you are doing something right.

"Our Beaumont pitch team work daily on one of the most used pitches in Cork to have it ready for our players, we really appreciate the work they do.

"All of our coaches who turn up week in week out to train a couple of nights a week and to games at the weekend, after all we are a football club so without our pitch and coaches we would be in trouble.

“Avondale is very lucky to have the people that we have involved.

"Paddy Scannell, who is a trustee and in the club since close to the beginning and to this day is still out cutting the grass in Avondale Park and heavily involved in the senior section along with the ever present Geraldine Mullane.

"Our committee, Con Finucane, Liam O'Regan, Dave Madden, James O'Riordan, Tomás O'Riordan, Steve Fox, John Mowatt, Siobhan McFadden and Conor O'Riordan who are one of the best groups I've had the pleasure of sitting around a table with.

“We have sub-committee members who are instrumental to the club's development.

"Ken Bruton and Micheal Mulconry have been relentless in the development process while coaching multiple teams at the same time. 

"Lorenzo Cammoranesi from Butler Cammoranesi Architects have also be fantastic designing the Beaumont facilities and will continue to work with us on our future projects.” 

Surrounding yourself with good people is always the ingredient for success and Plunkett believes his role as chairman has been a success due to the people he has around him.

“The role of chairman is something you cannot prepare yourself for in a club the size of Avondale United. 

"I quickly realised my key role was to put the right people in the right positions. This has worked out well, as we have a brilliant, professional and committed group around the table and most importantly we enjoy it.

"My ambition from the start was always to move the club forward and develop facilities to match the history, ambition and growing needs of the club for our players, male and female. 

"Thankfully, this seems to be the direction and long may it continue.”