Oscar Traynor Centre
The Oscar Traynor Centre (Irish: Ionad Oscar Mac Thréinfhir) is an association football venue in Coolock, Northside, Dublin, Ireland. The ground has been home to Women's National League club Bohemians since 2020.
 | |
  Oscar Traynor Centre Location within Dublin | |
| Full name | Oscar Traynor Coaching and Development Centre |
|---|---|
| Former names | AFL Centre |
| Location | Coolock, County Dublin |
| Coordinates | 53.3962°N 6.2272°W |
| Owner | The Oscar Traynor Coaching and Development Centre Co. Ltd. |
| Operator | Amateur Football League, North Dublin Schoolboys/girls League |
| Capacity | 1000[1] |
| Surface | Artificial turf[1] |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1985 |
| Renovated | 2001 |
| Construction cost | €688,000 (1985) |
| Tenants | |
| Bohemians (WNL) | |
In September 1985 Jim Tunney officially opened the AFL Coaching and Development Centre, which had been constructed by Dublin's Amateur Football League (AFL) at a cost of approximately €688,000.[2] The venue underwent significant expansion in 2001, when the North Dublin Schoolboys/girls League (NDSL) agreed to pool resources with the AFL. Floodlights, additional all-weather pitches and a separate club house elevated the facility to "a centre of coaching and soccer excellence".[3]
In January 2012 the Evening Herald reported that the Oscar Traynor Centre "faced an uncertain future", as the AFL and NDSL were in dispute and the directors of the loss-making separate company running the centre had resigned.[4] The NDSL subsequently entered into an arrangement with Bohemian FC in June 2013, which gave the League of Ireland club access to the Oscar Traynor Centre facilities.[5] When Bohemians launched a senior Women's National League club in 2020 they based them at the Oscar Traynor Centre instead of at the main Dalymount Park stadium.
The ground is situated on the road from Coolock to Santry, which is named for former Football Association of Ireland President Oscar Traynor.
International
In June 2005 the Republic of Ireland women's national football team defeated the Faroe Islands 2–1 at the Oscar Traynor Centre, both goals scored by Carmel Kissane.[6] The Republic of Ireland under-15 boys team beat Finland 1–0 at the Oscar Traynor Centre in April 2013.[7]
References
- "Oscar Traynor Centre". Soccerway. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
- "AFL - Amateur Football League". Soccer-Ireland.com. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
- Feery, Niall (8 October 2001). "All-weather pitches putt out golfers". The Herald (Ireland). p. 53.
- "Crisis Point - Future of OTCDC must be secured for the football family". The Herald (Ireland). 30 January 2012. p. 81.
- Brady, Ger (24 June 2013). "Bohs' Oscar Traynor link-up". The Herald (Ireland). Retrieved 22 August 2020.
- "Irish Women bound for Moscow". RISSC.org. June 2005. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
- "Irish U15s beat Finland in Friendly at Oscar Traynor Centre". Football Association of Ireland. 16 April 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2020.