Club & Community Development Programme
By Niamh Archibald
Damolly Youth Football Club is one of a number of local clubs currently taking part in the Club and Community Development Programme which is being run by IFA Grassroots Development Officer, Malcolm Roberts, in partnership with the Rural Community Network.
“This series of six workshops being run as part of the Club and Community Development Programme are unique,” explained Malcolm. “They have been created as a result of an increasing number of football clubs who seek assistance in managing their affairs both on and off the field of play.
“Newry and Mourne Grassroots Development Centre has engaged with nine clubs ranging from the Irish Premier League to the Local Youth League, in a sustained effort to plan, action and review the clubs’ performances in terms of administration, coach and player development and most prevalently, community outreach events.
“The future of Grassroots Development is where our grassroots clubs are in a position to attain the ambitions that their community desires.“
The strategic aims of the programme:
- Empowering clubs
- Raising standards
- Promoting sport in the Community
- Sustainable Development
Damolly Youth Football Club which was founded in the 1998 / 1999 season by Mary White and Sydney Henry has continued to expand and currently has up to 90 kids competing in the Carnbane League from the under nine age group through to under 15.
The increased numbers of kids has also seen the introduction of more coaches to facilitate the demand.
The club currently has one coach, Maurice Brown, who has completed the IFA Level 1 coaching badge as well as Coaching Disabled Footballers award and it is hoped that over the course of the year all other coaches associated with the club will complete qualifications to demonstrate the willingness of the volunteer coaching staff to welcome young players and those who want to get involved in coaching.
With so many new regulations protecting players and children who come for the fun of coaching sessions, Damolly FC has drawn up an action plan to ensure all coaches have an opportunity to fulfil the requirements of codes of good practice as well as offering incentives for the local community to become part of the club. 
It is the aim of the club to become the hub of the community and as Maurice Brown says “become a place where kids can come and not only learn new skills but also make lasting friendships with all members of the community. They will also learn disciple and respect and learn about health and fitness.”
Maurice said he hoped that the knowledge they obtain from the Community Development Programme being run by the IFA Grassroots Development Officer, Malcolm Roberts, will help the club learn how “to carry our club forward and how to work with the community and see what we can do for each other.” He also believes that it will encourage future relationships with other clubs by passing on ideas and experiences helping them all to become “strong clubs with strong structures that will allow us to carry on for many years to come. With Malcolm Roberts and his Club and Community Development Programme we hope to achieve this.”
Maurice also stated that in order for the club to continue it needs the support of the community, Carnbane League and Newry Council. He also called on people in the community to become volunteers and get involved with the club: “At the end of the day, although we can provide a service for the kids to learn new skills, make friendships and create relationships with all communities we need more volunteers. We need more of the community to get involved so we can have in place a football club we can all be part of and proud of,” he said.
