GAA outfit gets playing surface fit for the stars

If it’s good enough for the likes of football superstars like Robin Van Persie and Frank Lampard, then it’s good enough for Ireland’s exiled GAA players.

More than 300 tonnes of top soil from two of the world’s biggest clubs has been used to resurface the grounds of London GAA club, Tír Chonaill Gaels.

The deal was struck by Irish businessman Michael Crossan, who owns PowerDay Recycling Company.

Michael has connections with both Chelsea and Arsenal and regularly recycles waste products when they are re-seeding their pitch.

Now, the businessman and sponsor of Tír Chonaill Gaels, has literally presented the GAA outfit with a new playing surface fit for superstars.

Tír Chonaill Park in Greenford, has been closed for the past number of weeks while the re-seeding took place.

But chairman of the club Tom Mohan, from Frosses in Co Donegal, says it’s almost ready to be used.

“Mick Crossan has been very good to us. He does more than just write cheques for us. This is the best quality top soil you will find anywhere in the world and now we’ll be playing on it. Grounds such as Chelsea and Arsenal re-seed their pitch every three years and we have been lucky to benefit from it.

“Who knows — we might even start scoring a few more goals. Just as long as the lads don’t think they’re Frank Lampard and look for his wages,” he joked.

Estate agent Mohan said Ireland’s loss has been London’s gain, with hundreds of GAA players now transferring from clubs across Ireland to London.

“Since the 3rd of January we have transferred 28 players and I know there are more than 500 players who have transferred to various clubs around England in recent months.

“It’s unfortunate that has to be the case but it’s a fact of life that lots of young men are looking for work. We will try and find them work here and if they can play football then even better,” he said.