Wallace shock at Croker pitch probe

WEXFORD YOUTHS owner Mick Wallace has reacted with astonishment to Croke Park’s decision to investigate claims local GAA club Faythe Harriers let out their facilities to a soccer team, branding the decision “unbelievable”.

The well-known soccer and construction businessman also revealed yesterday he has rented his all-weather pitches at Ferrycarrig Park to GAA clubs and permitted the county senior footballers to use them until the Wexford board stepped in.

Wallace was shocked to learn the GAA ordered the Wexford County Board to compile a report on Harriers’ activities and report it to the Leinster Council. “It’s unbelievable, really,” said Wallace. “What are we coming to when we can’t do some honest business? The cost of running any club these days is so much. Why shouldn’t they [Faythe Harriers] be allowed to make as much bread as they can?

“This generation of players have played both Gaelic games and soccer. Unfortunately, there are people still living like its the 1950s.”

GAA President Christy Cooney this week stood fully behind the Harriers investigation, saying that the Association are “not here to provide grounds for other sports”. Rule 5.1 prohibits GAA clubs from making their pitches available to non-Association codes.

However, Wallace has also told of how he was approached by a current member of the Wexford senior football panel about the availability of his facilities when two of their pitches were unplayable due to bad weather.

“I’ve artificial pitches and have been renting them to Gaelic teams. Their money is as good as anyone’s. We had Buffers Alley for a while as well as St Annes. We were delighted.

“I remember there was a situation when the pitch on which the county’s senior footballers trained was waterlogged. One of the players rang me up and asked if they could use ours.

“They’re good guys but it was also about giving the county team a dig-out. Sport is something that has to be supported. They were about to start using it when a board official rang and told them under no circumstances were they to train on the pitch.”