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.
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Full name | Oscar Traynor Coaching and Development Centre |
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Former names | AFL Centre |
Location | Coolock, County Dublin |
Coordinates | 53.3962°N 6.2272°W / 53.3962; -6.2272 |
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.[citation needed]
The ground is situated on the road from Coolock to Santry, which is named for former Football Association of Ireland President Oscar Traynor.[citation needed]
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]
Women's National League (Ireland) venues | |
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Current | |
Former |
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