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Waterford RSC Wins Airtricity League Pitch of the Year 2013
- 29 October 2013
Waterford RSC, home ground of Waterford United Football Club, has won the 2013 Airtricity League Pitch of the Year Award, following an inspection by the Irish Institute of Sports Surfaces (IISS).
The winner of the award was announced following nominations by Airtricity League referees and players, in association with the Professional Footballers Association of Ireland.
The award, which is organised by the FAI and IISS, and sponsored by Greenday Environmental Services, will be presented at a function prior to the FAI Ford Cup final at Aviva Stadium on November 3.
IISS Managing Director Donal Kearney said: “The Pitch of the Year Awards has been created to highlight the hard work of the League of Ireland Clubs and Grounds staff whose dedication and endeavours has often gone unnoticed. We hope that this award provides due recognition which will encourage others to work towards improving the standards of their playing surfaces. Congratulations to Waterford RSC on their achievement and our thanks to Greenday Environmental for their support.”
Eamonn McShea, CEO of Greenday Environmental, who offer a comprehensive range of drainage services for domestic and commercial sectors throughout Ireland, added: “Greenday Environmental are delighted to support this award in recognition of the hard work clubs and their groundsmen in the Airtricity League put in all year round.”
Fran Gavin, Director of the Airtricity League, added: “I would like to congratulate all those involved in the RSC. This award is the result of many years of hard work by the ground staff which has earned the pitch a reputation of being one of the best playing surfaces in country.
Joe Sullivan, Director of Housing & Community Services and Sport with Waterford City Council who own and operate the RSC said : “Waterford City Council are delighted to receive the Pitch of the Year award and that it was a strong acknowledgement of the great work being carried out by Darren Sealy and his team at the RSC over the last few years. The award is reflective of a number of recent improvements made to the RSC with a view to achieving a sporting centre of excellence and the achievement of a top quality playing surface is an important contributing factor in making the RSC Waterford an attractive sports venue to play at.”
The competition began in 2007 following the takeover of the National League by the Football Association of Ireland. Initially it was known as the Groundsman of the Year Award but was renamed Pitch of the Year in 2009.
The previous winners are:
Groundsman of the Year
2007 – Noel Connolly, Terryland Park
2008 – Noel Connolly, Terryland Park
Pitch of the Year
2009 – The UCD Bowl
2010 – Tallaght Stadium
2011 – Turner's Cross
2012 – Tallaght Stadium
