Athlone Town FC can access €200,000 grant

Athlone Town soccer club can now draw down a €200,000 government grant for a proposed new astro-turf training pitch, following an agreement in the High Court.

The court had been asked to make an order directing Athlone Town Stadium Ltd, which developed the €3m-plus, 5,000-seater stadium, to consent to a charge being created over Athlone Town AFC’s leasehold interest in the property. While that issue was resolved yesterday by consent, before Mr Justice Richard Humphreys, an overall dispute as to ownership of the stadium rolls on to a full High Court hearing, yet to be listed.

The club had secured the sports capital grant for the new facility at Lissywollen, Athlone, but, before it could draw down the funds, the minister for sport had sought the making of a charge against the 35-year lease which the club holds from the stadium company.