'Dressing rooms not fit for cattle, and one toilet for 25 people' - League of Ireland player survey highlights grim reality

Some League of Ireland dressing rooms “are not fit for cattle” while others are “like something from the stone age”.

That’s the damning verdict of PFA Ireland boss Stephen McGuinness following a survey of 461 players across the Premier and First Divisions, and Women’s Premier Division.

And McGuinness hopes the findings strike a chord in Government.

206 players in the men’s Premier Division completed the ‘Match-Day Facilities’ survey, 150 in the First Division and 105 in the Women’s Premier Division.

Conducted at the end of the 2023 season, it found that many - but not all - dressing rooms were not of adequate size for 20 players and staff.

Shower areas were used as physio / medical rooms at some venues, while there was often a lack of hot water in the showers that actually worked.

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The study also found that many dressing rooms only had one functioning toilet for over 25 people - and no lock on the door.

In the men’s Premier Division, players voted Oriel Park in Dundalk as the ground where overall match-day facilities are the least acceptable for a professional footballer.

Tallaght Stadium was voted the best, followed in order by Turner’s Cross, The Showgrounds, Richmond Park, UCD Bowl, Tolka Park, The Brandywell, Dalymount Park, Weavers Park and Oriel Park.

Asked to rank the dressing rooms specifically, Premier Division players put Drogheda United’s Weavers Park at the bottom of the list.

Tallaght Stadium was again top of the pile, followed in order by Turners Cross, UCD Bowl, The Showgrounds, Richmond Park, Brandywell Stadium, Tolka Park, Dalymount Park, Oriel Park and Weavers Park.

Artificial surfaces got a major thumbs down when players were asked to rank the pitches with Oriel Park deemed the worst, followed by the Brandywell.

PFAI General Secretary Stephen McGuinness
(Image: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne)

Tallaght Stadium has the best pitch followed in order by Richmond Park, Turners Cross, The Showgrounds, UCD Bowl, Tolka Park, Dalymount Park, Weavers Park, Brandywell Stadium, Oriel Park.

In the First Division, players voted Mounthawk Park in Kerry as the ground where overall match-day facilities are the least acceptable for a professional footballer.

Waterford’s RSC was deemed to have the best player facilities, followed in order by Eamonn Deacy Park, Markets Field, Carlisle Grounds, Ferrycarrig Park, Bishopsgate, Athlone Town Stadium, Finn Park, St. Colman’s Park and Mounthawk Park.

St Colman’s Park in Cobh was found to have the worst dressing rooms in the First Division.

Eamonn Deacy Park and the RSC were tied at the top for having the best changing room facilities, followed by Markets Field, Carlisle Grounds, Athlone Town Stadium, Bishopsgate, Ferrycarrig Park, Finn Park, Mounthawk Park and St Coleman’s.

First Division players also voted Eamonn Deacy Park and the RSC as the joint best pitches, followed by Markets Field, Carlisle Grounds, Ferrycarrig Park, Bishopsgate, Athlone Town Stadium, Finn Park, St Colman’s Park and Mounthawk Park.

And in the Women’s Premier Division, players voted Dalymount Park rock bottom when asked to rank facilities they feel are not acceptable for the highest level of football.

In fact, Dalymount picked up an unwanted hat-trick after female players voted it bottom of the dressing room and pitch rankings.

McGuinness told Mirror Sport: “This survey is not us bashing the clubs. It’s the players’ opinion about the facilities at their place of work.

“There's a lot of talk around the general upgrading facilities at League of Ireland grounds, and that’s great.

“But the players’ voices cannot get lost in the debate. They are the athletes after all. But some of the dressing rooms are the same as they were 50 years ago.

“You wouldn’t keep cattle in some of them. The Government needs to know that facilities for players are like something from the stone age. It’s embarrassing.”

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