GLAMOUR GAMES LIKELY TO NET JUST �15,000
Glamour games likely to net just �15,000 for the Omagh bomb fund
LITTLE more than �15,000 will be paid into the Omagh Fund following last autumn's three glamour soccer friendlies at St. Julian's Road, it has been revealed this week.
Omagh Town secretary, Pat McGIinchey, told the Tyrone Constitution yesterday (Wednesday) he believed the final takings would amount to approximately �200,000, when the Omagh Memorial Matches Account (OMMA) was wound up later this month.
But he disclosed that the costs of staging the games with Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool had risen to almost �190,000.
Mr. McGIinchey went on: "At times, as the costs mounted, it became scary. The three-person OMMA set up to co-ordinate and administer the finances of the three matches, was so alarmed that it considered indemnifying itself against any loss."
The Town secretary said that apart from paying for flights for the three Premiership giants, and footing the bill for their hospitality while they were in the Province, the club had paid �70,000 to install the additional seating which increased the tiny ground's capacity to more than 7,000.
"And it cost �50,000 to meet the demands of the Health and Safety Executive, who produced a two-page list of demands to us. We had to satisfy those requirements before the games were sanctioned," added Mr. McGIinchey.
He said it should also be remembered that, although various aspects of the ground upgrading undertaken - such as provision of additional turnstiles and safety exits would benefit the club in the long term, much of the clearance work to make way for 4,000 extra seats had to be remedied at the club's expense.
Mr. McGIinchey disclosed that Town had put all documentation from the games into the hands of the OMMA late last year. The tripartite group consisted of Omagh District Council's finance officer, Joan McCaffrey, an independently nominated local accountant, Brian Mellon, and Mr. McGIinchey.
"I thought when I waved bye bye to Liverpool and handed over the paperwork my role was concluded," said the Town official. "Instead, for the past three months I have been a glorified debt collector and bill payer.
"However, I called with Mr. Mellon on Monday of this week to sign what I hope were the final cheques. I now expect him to proceed to wind up the account, and to make a cheque payable to the Omagh Fund for something like �15,000.
Further sums
"Certainly, the last time Brian showed me the files there was about �200,000 on the income side, and �180,000 outgoing. The VAT has been paid, and, while there are a few bits and pieces of money still to come in, I believe arrangements can be made for further sums accruing to be paid directly into the Fund."
When asked if he was disappointed that so much hard work had been expended for so little return, Mr. McGlinchey had this to say: "Not at all. In fact I am delighted there was a surplus of any kind.
"Omagh Town would have been happy to break even on the venture. These games were not about making money but about raising morale amongst the people of the district.
"That is why they were not played at somewhere like Windsor Park. Vast numbers in the crowds for the three games were Omagh people. They would not have bussed to Belfast.
"And there were still others, who had never been at a big game in their lives, who only came out because the friendlies were on their doorstep. We also know that 700 bomb victims attended the matches. The trauma team has told us the games were an uplifting experience for these people.
"So we achieved what we set out to do. Our game plan was to provide entertainment locally. I think we .brightened the lives of as many people as possible. It only could have been bettered had we been able to secure Healy Park.
"Once that idea was shot down at the highest level we grasped the nettle and decided to stage the matches no matter the cost."
LITTLE more than �15,000 will be paid into the Omagh Fund following last autumn's three glamour soccer friendlies at St. Julian's Road, it has been revealed this week.
Omagh Town secretary, Pat McGIinchey, told the Tyrone Constitution yesterday (Wednesday) he believed the final takings would amount to approximately �200,000, when the Omagh Memorial Matches Account (OMMA) was wound up later this month.
But he disclosed that the costs of staging the games with Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool had risen to almost �190,000.
Mr. McGIinchey went on: "At times, as the costs mounted, it became scary. The three-person OMMA set up to co-ordinate and administer the finances of the three matches, was so alarmed that it considered indemnifying itself against any loss."
The Town secretary said that apart from paying for flights for the three Premiership giants, and footing the bill for their hospitality while they were in the Province, the club had paid �70,000 to install the additional seating which increased the tiny ground's capacity to more than 7,000.
"And it cost �50,000 to meet the demands of the Health and Safety Executive, who produced a two-page list of demands to us. We had to satisfy those requirements before the games were sanctioned," added Mr. McGIinchey.
He said it should also be remembered that, although various aspects of the ground upgrading undertaken - such as provision of additional turnstiles and safety exits would benefit the club in the long term, much of the clearance work to make way for 4,000 extra seats had to be remedied at the club's expense.
Mr. McGIinchey disclosed that Town had put all documentation from the games into the hands of the OMMA late last year. The tripartite group consisted of Omagh District Council's finance officer, Joan McCaffrey, an independently nominated local accountant, Brian Mellon, and Mr. McGIinchey.
"I thought when I waved bye bye to Liverpool and handed over the paperwork my role was concluded," said the Town official. "Instead, for the past three months I have been a glorified debt collector and bill payer.
"However, I called with Mr. Mellon on Monday of this week to sign what I hope were the final cheques. I now expect him to proceed to wind up the account, and to make a cheque payable to the Omagh Fund for something like �15,000.
Further sums
"Certainly, the last time Brian showed me the files there was about �200,000 on the income side, and �180,000 outgoing. The VAT has been paid, and, while there are a few bits and pieces of money still to come in, I believe arrangements can be made for further sums accruing to be paid directly into the Fund."
When asked if he was disappointed that so much hard work had been expended for so little return, Mr. McGlinchey had this to say: "Not at all. In fact I am delighted there was a surplus of any kind.
"Omagh Town would have been happy to break even on the venture. These games were not about making money but about raising morale amongst the people of the district.
"That is why they were not played at somewhere like Windsor Park. Vast numbers in the crowds for the three games were Omagh people. They would not have bussed to Belfast.
"And there were still others, who had never been at a big game in their lives, who only came out because the friendlies were on their doorstep. We also know that 700 bomb victims attended the matches. The trauma team has told us the games were an uplifting experience for these people.
"So we achieved what we set out to do. Our game plan was to provide entertainment locally. I think we .brightened the lives of as many people as possible. It only could have been bettered had we been able to secure Healy Park.
"Once that idea was shot down at the highest level we grasped the nettle and decided to stage the matches no matter the cost."
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1433
Published Date: 02-Mar-00
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