Rare footage of the RSC in 1989

Take a step back into the past to see how the RSC looked in January 1989 and to hear about the controversy over Waterford United moving there. Club chairman Eamon Reid, Minister for Sport Frank Fahey and Mayor Brendan Kenneally feature in this RTÉ News report.

 

The Blues were bottom of the Premier Division at the time and ultimately relegated that season for the first time. The traditional home ground at Kilcohan Park was showing its age and the football club were being refused more than a one-year tenancy there. The club was in a precarious state at the time and had limited opportunity to develop in Kilcohan.

 

 

Bord Lúthchleas na hÉireann (the athletics board) were the sole occupants of Kilbarry at the time. There was a running track, some field sports facilities, and a whole lot of mud. The government promised a £100,000 grant for the 'stadium', but on the condition that Waterford United would move there and floodlights be provided for them at a cost of £50,000. This provoked fury from the athletics club while the football club pleaded that the move was vital for its future. 

 

 

In the end, it took until the summer of 1993 for The Blues to move into the Regional Sports Centre at Kilbarry. There was no stand, still no floodlights and a bog of a pitch. The floodlights came a year later, but were fundednot by the Department of Sport, but by Sky Sports as part of a deal allowing them to broadcast their Sunday afternoon Premiership matches. This, in turn, led to League of Ireland matches switching to Friday nights instead of the traditional Sunday afternoon 3pm kickoffs. The first stand was opened in 1996 with the second (still referred to as 'new') stand added in 2008. Despite the controversial beginning, the RSC has been the home of the Blues for 32 years now.