Head In The Game Park, also known as United Park, and formerly O2 Park and Hunky Dorys Park for sponsorship purposes, is a football stadium in Drogheda,

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

. The ground has been home to League of Ireland side

Drogheda United Drogheda United Football Club ( ga, Cumann Peile Dhroichead Átha Aontaithe) is a semi-professional Irish association football club based in Drogheda, County Louth playing in the League of Ireland Premier Division. They play their home matches ...

since 1979. It was officially opened on 12 August 1979 with a friendly against

Queens Park Rangers F.C. Queens Park Rangers Football Club, commonly abbreviated to QPR, is a professional football club based in Shepherd's Bush, West London, England, which compete in the . After a nomadic early existence, they have played home matches at Loftus Ro ...

In October 1993, the first match under floodlights took place with a 2-1 win over Shamrock Rovers The ground has a capacity of 3,500 with 1,500 seats. During the middle of 2010, renovations took place to bring the venue up to licensing standards: changes include the addition of seats to the GAA side of the ground (to bring the seating capacity up to 1,500), new toilet facilities and a new covered section dedicated to wheelchair users. The ground was also known briefly as O2 Park during 2002 and 2003, as part of a sponsorship deal with the telecommunications company O2. The stadium used to hold 5,400, though the safe capacity is now set at 2000 by the Louth County Fire Officer. The stadium has also hosted five Republic of Ireland under-21 national football team games and other international underage games including games in the 1994 UEFA European Under-16 Football Championship. Proposals were made to sell the site and build a 10,000 all seater new stadium on the outskirts of the town.An Irish Town Planner's Blog: PLANS for a new town of 12,000 people on south of Drogheda
/ref> In July 2008, planning permission was given to Drogheda United by

Meath County Council Meath County Council ( ga, Comhairle Chontae na Mí) is the authority responsible for local government in County Meath, Ireland. As a county council, it is governed by the Local Government Act 2001. The council is responsible for housing and co ...

, however, the plans eventually fell through.

References

{{League of Ireland venues Drogheda United F.C. Association football venues in the Republic of Ireland Multi-purpose stadiums in the Republic of Ireland Sports venues in County Louth Association football clubs established in 1979 1979 establishments in Ireland