Portlaoise AFC launches fundraiser for full-size Astro Turf pitch in Laois

Portlaoise AFC has launched a fundraising campaign to support the development of a full-size Astro Turf pitch at the club's grounds at Rossleighan Park, Portlaoise, R32 V092..The project aims to provide uninterrupted football access for the club’s growing membership, which now includes nearly 30 teams across all age groups and abilities.

Established in 1966, Portlaoise AFC has become Laois’ largest soccer club. Each week, nearly 1,000 players, coaches, and volunteers pass through the club’s facilities. Alongside its boys’ and girls’ teams, the club also operates a football academy for children as young as five, as well as initiatives such as Football for All and Vision Impaired Football. However, the existing facilities are stretched to capacity, and adding a full-size Astro pitch is seen as a crucial step in sustaining the club’s growth.

“Our current facilities are at their limit,” the club stated on its GoFundMe page. “We badly need a new Astro Pitch to enable us to provide uninterrupted football for all existing members and to facilitate new players as the club continues to grow. All help is greatly appreciated.”

The fundraiser follows the club’s successful planning application submitted to Laois County Council in 2023. The proposed development includes a full-size Astro Turf pitch, a 2.4m steel fence, floodlighting, and associated works. The pitch will be situated on a greenfield site adjacent to the clubhouse and will become the fourth pitch at the club’s facilities, alongside a smaller 7-a-side pitch.

Portlaoise AFC has been steadily expanding its grounds in recent years to accommodate increasing player numbers. The new Astro Turf pitch will provide a vital all-weather training and playing surface, ensuring teams can continue training throughout the winter months and in adverse weather conditions.

With the fundraiser now underway, the club is calling on its members, supporters, and the wider community to contribute towards making the project a reality. Donations can be made via the club’s GoFundMe page, and all contributions, big or small, are welcomed in helping Portlaoise AFC take this significant step forward.