AN UNDERDOG STORY: Rural Carlow community's fight to keep historic football club thriving

Since Nurney Villa Football Club's formation in 1976, they have hosted their home games in various local venues with the kind permission of landowners. 

But the decision was taken a number of years ago to secure the club's own land to build a pitch and community walkway. 

Ground was broken in 2010 and its first game was played in 2023. The floodlighting was completed for the start of the current season and work on the new clubhouse is currently underway. 

Club officials said: "We are immensely proud to have completed such a project in a small, rural community providing much-needed facilities for the club and the wider community. 

"Nurney Villa currently boasts over 250 playing members with teams entered in both juvenile and adult leagues from Under8s to over 35s.

"Players and supporters travel from across the county to represent Nurney Villa each week and we are proud to host up to six matches each weekend across all age groups and leagues."

PITCH NAMING RIGHTS

"The unique opportunity to purchase the naming rights of our new facility for the next ten years is also available. This name will be used in all communications, fixture listings and match reports," club officials have said. 

PITCHSIDE ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES

To provide for the completion and future of this community project, the following options for pitchside advertising are available:

8ft x 2ft sign (€2,000) for ten years 

10ft x 3ft sign (€3,000) for ten years 

*This includes the purchase and hanging of the sign. Payment plans and direct debit options are also available. Please ask any committee member. This cost is 100% tax deductible

For further info, contact:

Dermot Maher (086 345 7788)

Denis Nolan (087 223 5740)