Longford thank fans for getting stadium ready

Longford Town has paid tribute to its fans for getting their Flancare Park ground ready for tonight’s historic UEFA Cup tie at the ground.

The midlanders play their qualifying round second leg tie against Vaduz of Liechtenstein at home tonight thanks to the army of volunteers who have helped bring their Strokestown Road venue up to UEFA’s "A" Licence standard.

Club secretary Frank Murtagh said without those fans the club would have been forced to play the tie at a Dublin venue.

"The club would like to acknowledge the work of everybody involved in getting the ground ready,” Murtagh said.

“It wouldn't have happened without the huge amount of voluntary help that goes in to running our club."

Murtagh said seating on two sides of the ground was removed to allow work to be undertaken and then reinstalled; a control room, wheelchair bay and an additional turnstile was installed and further work was also done on first aid and drug-testing rooms.

Now he wants the fans to get behind the FAI Cup winners on the pitch by turning out in force at Flancare Park this evening.

"We now hope that the people will respond and all those that attended the cup final and made it such a great occasion come out in force on Thursday night for what is one of the biggest games the club has ever played.”