Drogheda United is launching a business and commercial programme around their upcoming trip to Türkiye with a free event for the local community. The club will host a Business Breakfast at Sullivan & Lambe Park on Monday, September 7, at 9:30am, as officially reported by Drogheda United FC. This initiative formally kicks off the commercial activities tied to their significant European fixture against Trabzonspor at Papara Park on Thursday, October 1.
The club, currently 9th in the Premier Division with 28 points from 29 games, sees this match as more than just a sporting occasion. They aim to create a lasting impact by using football as a platform to forge new business and diplomatic links between Drogheda and Türkiye. The breakfast event is designed to bring together the Drogheda business community, club partners, and stakeholders to explore these opportunities.
What is the goal of the Business Breakfast?
The primary goal is to build new relationships and unlock potential from the growing connections between Ireland and Türkiye. Drogheda United believes the combination of football, history, culture, and diplomacy offers a unique way to develop meaningful business ties. The club is actively working to create direct links between businesses and organisations in Drogheda and their counterparts in Trabzon and across Türkiye.
CEO Rían Wogan highlighted the diplomatic dimension. "When we met with the Turkish Ambassador to Ireland, H.E." Wogan said. The club views Türkiye as a region with huge potential and wants to use this fixture to open doors for local enterprises.
How can local businesses get involved?
The club is encouraging businesses from across Drogheda and the wider region to engage with the project in several ways. Options include attending the free Business Breakfast, though space is limited. Companies can also travel as part of the official delegation to Türkiye or participate in business networking opportunities scheduled around the October 1st fixture. The ambition is to establish relationships that will outlast the final whistle and become the true legacy of the event.
Hubert Murphy, CEO of Drogheda Chamber, strongly endorsed the initiative. "Drogheda and Turkiye have a bond going back many, many years and this event will be the catalyst for great relationships to come," Murphy stated. He added that building bridges and networks is central to the Chamber's work and described the upcoming trip as a really special opportunity for the town.
What is the current context for Drogheda United?
This off-field project launches as the team navigates a challenging phase in the league. Their last result was a 1-2 home defeat to Galway United on September 4. The team's recent form shows five consecutive losses, and they have scored 33 goals while conceding 48 so far this season. They sit 28 points behind league leaders Shamrock Rovers in the standings.
The focus now shifts to preparing for the next domestic challenge, a home match against Sligo Rovers on September 11. Fans can track the team's progress and upcoming schedule on the club's fixtures page. The trip to Trabzon represents a major highlight in the calendar, and the club hopes the business relationships forged will provide a positive, enduring outcome from the adventure. The next fixture at Sullivan & Lambe Park is against 10th-placed Sligo Rovers.
