Warrenpoint Town now in Irish League Premiership.

[The Diarrhoa Divil]

It's amazing that 2 years ago when Warrenpoint Town were winning IFA Championship 2 and Newry City were being relegated that the majority of the players who secured the 'Point's promotion were languishing the Carnbane League.
Stevie Moan up until last year was captain of Newry Celtic. Two years ago Rambo was playing up front for the Bessbrook Utd team which reached the Junior Cup final whilst younger brother Dingo was up front for Cleary Celtic. Kenny Kearns was also part of the Bessbrook Utd side that reached that Junior Cup final. Mark Hughes was playing for Crieve Rovers and Stephen "Giggsy" McCabe was lining out for Windmill Stars. Only for Newry's relegation and subsequent reliance on local players they might never have got a chance at this level. With Newry's demise Barry Gray wasted no time in getting these lads. Fair play to all of them, junior to senior football in two years is a great achievement.

All very true, good to see these guys getting a chance at the higher level having proved themselves on the way up.

Boyle and Cowan both back playing GAA for the point too now just to note, along with Gary Boyle who is also in the squad.

Where were those fellas last Thursday night when their club needed them against an average Mayobridge side when they lost by 7pts? Surely the Point GAA club arent too happy with that. And what of the other GAA clubs that these fellas play for, Bosco, Annaclone, Rostrevor etc.

[T Fearon]

 Er, I would say they had other things on their mind last Thursday night, 24 hours ahead of Warrenpoint Town's biggest ever fixture.

Common problem for GAA clubs when you have players playing Irish League. Used to be that both sports could have been combined, not any more though.

[Milltown Row2]

Do Warrenpoint meet the IFA stadium standards? Whatever they are and if not will the DC still be playing Premiership football next year?

[qubdub]

It's amazing that 2 years ago when Warrenpoint Town were winning IFA Championship 2 and Newry City were being relegated that the majority of the players who secured the 'Point's promotion were languishing the Carnbane League.
Stevie Moan up until last year was captain of Newry Celtic. Two years ago Rambo was playing up front for the Bessbrook Utd team which reached the Junior Cup final whilst younger brother Dingo was up front for Cleary Celtic. Kenny Kearns was also part of the Bessbrook Utd side that reached that Junior Cup final. Mark Hughes was playing for Crieve Rovers and Stephen "Giggsy" McCabe was lining out for Windmill Stars. Only for Newry's relegation and subsequent reliance on local players they might never have got a chance at this level. With Newry's demise Barry Gray wasted no time in getting these lads. Fair play to all of them, junior to senior football in two years is a great achievement.

All very true, good to see these guys getting a chance at the higher level having proved themselves on the way up.

Boyle and Cowan both back playing GAA for the point too now just to note, along with Gary Boyle who is also in the squad.

Where were those fellas last Thursday night when their club needed them against an average Mayobridge side when they lost by 7pts? Surely the Point GAA club arent too happy with that. And what of the other GAA clubs that these fellas play for, Bosco, Annaclone, Rostrevor etc.

Going out on a limb here but maybe they prefer soccer and give it preference!

[T Fearon]

Probably no preference,but soccer pays and on the eve of a second leg promotion play off,even if Warrenpoint Town permitted it,they're hardly going to opt for a GAA club game.

MR2 Warrenpoint Town's ground doesnt meet standards so they will have to play home games at a venue that does.Newry show grounds 7 miles up the road is ideal but for a reason that has yet to be clearly explained,this venue isn't available.

[Milltown Row2]

Probably no preference,but soccer pays and on the eve of a second leg promotion play off,even if Warrenpoint Town permitted it,they're hardly going to opt for a GAA club game.

MR2 Warrenpoint Town's ground doesnt meet standards so they will have to play home games at a venue that does.Newry show grounds 7 miles up the road is ideal but for a reason that has yet to be clearly explained,this venue isn't available.

Yes heard that Newry isn't available, reasons? And by playing in the league below surely if you have ambitions of getting into the premiership then you need to be ready for it, if not why bother?

[T Fearon]

Chicken and egg situation.Do you spend a pile of money hoping to get promotion or wait until you actually do? Seems to me that waiting is most sensible.

Heard that Newry were looking a colossal rental fee for the show grounds.That is ridiculous and just sour grapes.

[ranch]

Do Warrenpoint meet the IFA stadium standards? Whatever they are and if not will the DC still be playing Premiership football next year?

MR2 Warrenpoint Town's ground doesnt meet standards so they will have to play home games at a venue that does.Newry show grounds 7 miles up the road is ideal but for a reason that has yet to be clearly explained,this venue isn't available.

The ground is nowhere near meeting the required standards at the moment and as such the 'Point have agreed a ground share with Dungannon Swifts. Newry, Portadown and Glenavon all refused their own grounds for various reasons.

In relation to T Fearon's comment about Newry not explaining their reasons, that's nonsense. There are various reasons such as the state of the pitch, who has preference for the ground in the event of a fixture clash (which will inevitably happen as Newry will be in an endless amount of cup competitions at Mid Ulster level) and last but not least the issue of rates.
Newry negotiated a much better rates package with Department of Finance than had previously been in place (a cut in excess of £15,000) due to the fact they were competing at a much lower level. By allowing the 'Point to use the ground the Dept. of Finance could see a top tier side using the ground and thus impose the appropriate rates. There's a lot much more to it than people realise.

Yes heard that Newry isn't available, reasons? And by playing in the league below surely if you have ambitions of getting into the premiership then you need to be ready for it, if not why bother?

Chicken and egg situation.Do you spend a pile of money hoping to get promotion or wait until you actually do? Seems to me that waiting is most sensible.

They were basically caught on the hop with promotion. Last year they finished 3rd from bottom in Championship One and playing in the Irish Premier League would have been the furthest thing from their minds. With Newry's demise they wasted no time in getting a lot of the Newry squad which finished in 2nd position last season. There's no way they could have foreseen that they'd need to develop their ground so quickly.

Heard that Newry were looking a colossal rental fee for the show grounds.That is ridiculous and just sour grapes.

You heard or are just speculating?

As for sour grapes, explain then why Newry allowed the 'Point to use the Showgrounds only last month for a Mid Ulster Cup tie? They could easily have said no. Or perhaps you just didn't know that happened!? 

[T Fearon]

Still think that something could be agreed by Newry.Rates shouldnt be an issue,can't see how this can be linked with the status of teams playing there,and the odd clash could be resolved by agreement of all four teams involved to reschedule.

Apart from inconvenience of travelling to Dungannon,Warrenpoint Town playing home games in Newry can only benefit Newry City FC and the City in general as money will come into both club and city at every fixture.

[rrhf]

Na they are bringing their big game footie to Tyrone. Two professional teams playing from stanch more, 200 fans between them

[Milltown Row2]

What money? Average gate as someone posted was 53;-)

[NAG1]

What money? Average gate as someone posted was 53;-)

So they would rather pay their players than develop the club and the infrastructure around it for the next generation of kids coming through the club. This is what is wrong local soccer, well one of the main things anyway, everyone standing with their hand out with next to no loyalty to the club paying them.

[T Fearon]

That's semi and full time professional sport.

[NAG1]

That's semi and full time professional sport.

Yeah Im not naive enough not to realise that, but then they are standing with their hand out to local authorities and governments crying about their facilities, its supposed to be 'their' club and their responsibility to develop it.

[RealSpiritof98]

Warrenpoint town have been caught out by their quick success but what they aren't doing is filling the pockets of mercenary Irish League players. I think it was only last season that they actually started to pay players and even though they are destined for the top league next year their club still has a mid-ulster type feel to it. Barry Gray is the manager but from little knowledge I do have on the situation i've heard he is chief financier and basically owns the Football Club.