Club features
SPOTLIGHT ON WARRENPOINT TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB
WARRENPOINT Town FC has developed like no other. This relatively young award winning club, founded in 1987, currently fields two senior teams in the Mid-Ulster Intermediate League, three junior teams in the Mid-Ulster Youth League and six youth teams in the Newry Carnbane League.
It is no surprise that this vibrant club is a centre of football fun and frenzy every Saturday and most week days. Lucky enough the facilities at Milltown provided by the club for the 140 league playing children can cope.
The club’s Mini Soccer Centre reopened in April – so add another 150 children onto the club’s ever growing list of youth who are enjoying sport. The centre is very popular with boys and girls, of primary school age, attending from all around Newry and Mourne. The two hour event (10 am to 12 noon) runs every Saturday through to Halloween at Milltown playing fields, Warrenpoint and is open to all. There are many certified coaches in attendance with IFA badges, child protection and first aid training.
The growth has been helped greatly by the Newry and Mourne District Council, Sports Council NI, Peace & Reconciliation (Peace II), local businesses, parents, players and the surrounding community. The club is proud of the assistance received from and extended to the local St Peters GAA club and the Warrenpoint Tennis Club, mutual users of the sports facilities at Milltown Playing Fields. The connections, though, run deeper and further than local clubs as Warrenpoint Town FC has hosted and travelled to many events in a push to narrow the community gap.
The club has expanded over the years with the opening of a new pitch in 1995, floodlights in 1998 and new clubrooms in 2005. Current plans for expansion include the construction of a new 3G (Third Generation) all weather pitch and the development of the upstairs area of the new clubrooms building.
It is hoped that these facilities will help other members of the community get involved in the club. Other plans for the future include extending the number of youth teams by two from August 2008 and, continuing on the sporting and community front, the club has advanced plans for women/girls summer football and the development of disability football.
The 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.
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.
Michael Gray of Warrenpoint Town FC welcomed the series of workshops: “It gives us the opportunity to meet other clubs and to work with the IFA and the Newry and Mourne Grassroots Development Centre. It helps us learn and provides a great forum for like-minded clubs who wish to progress.”
He added: “We would like to thank Malcolm Roberts for his work with the club and local football in general. Many special needs children and adults, through his Mourne River programme, have enjoyed football and friendship. Malcolm and his department based at Newry & Mourne District Council have also been busy developing football in local schools with many beneficial spin-offs.”
So, it’s onwards and upwards for this progressive club and if you would like to enjoy any of the events, facilities or programmes you can contact Michael Gray on 07802 664 375 for further assistance.
Camlough Rovers FC 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.
The club was established prior to the 1979/80 season. Today’s committee comprises of Jackie Mooney (Chairman); two members of the founding committee, namely Seamus Lennon (Secretary) and Gerard O'Callaghan (Treasurer) and Michael Loughran, Deirdre Loughran, Fiona Mooney, Barry Mooney and Sean Murray.
During the lifetime of the club, Camlough Rovers have achieved numerous honours, including: Mid Ulster Shield Winners 1987-88 and Mid Ulster Shield Runners up twice as well as Carnbane League Awards: League Division 1 winners twice; Runners up six times; Cup Competitions 12 times.
Teams: At present Camlough Rovers have a senior team in the Mid-Ulster Intermediate ‘B’ league. The youth section of the club comprises an under 18 team in the Mid Ulster Youth League and an under 12 and two under 11 teams in the Carnbane Youth League. Commencing in the 2008 – 2009 season Camlough Rovers hope to add more teams to their existing portfolio, thus creating greater opportunities for the local community.
Development plans: Camlough Rovers have excellent pitch and clubroom facilities, which are continually being improved in order to meet new intermediate criteria set by the IFA. The club plans to expand these facilities further with the addition of a new training area with a third generation surface. In order to provide skill leadership, at present the club has eight coaches who have achieved their Grassroots Level 1 coaching badges and in the future they are hoping to upgrade coaches to UEFA C and B levels.
Grassroots Club and Community Development Workshops: Camlough Rovers are currently participating in the Club and Community Development Programme being run by IFA Grassroots Development Officer, Malcolm Roberts, with the aim of developing further as a club. “This series of 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.“
During the 2007-08 season Camlough Rovers held various events for the local community including: one week summer scheme in August, two half mornings of coaching at Halloween; one day coaching on Christmas Eve and two days of coaching at Easter.
The club aims to make these events a permanent fixture during the upcoming seasons, as well as many other fun events including an under 10 and under 12 cross community tournament in May, with a similar senior event in July. The club also plans to set up mini-soccer sessions for Saturday mornings beginning early summer, which will be open to all ages, see local press for details.
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.
By Niamh Archibald
MONEYSLANE FC 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.
Moneyslane Football Club is a highly successful club which fields teams from the under 10 age group right up to senior level, as well as a ladies team.
The Club which was founded in 1983 currently boasts membership of over 200 and has teams playing in the Carnbane League (underage) and the senior teams are playing in the Mid-Ulster League for the first time after 24 years in the Newcastle League. This year is also the Club’s 25 years on their pitch.
In February 2006 the Club achieved a Goldmark Award - something the Junior Club co-ordinator Leonard Blakely says was a “big achievement for our Club.”
They currently have 11 IFA Level 1 junior section coaches and 2 UEFA ‘B’ coaches in their ranks and have a successful underage and ladies set up. “I am the Junior Club co-ordinator and Club Development Officer and drew up a three year plan before we started the junior section which has been very successful,” explained Leonard.
The senior 1st team won the League in 2003 - another great success for the Club.
The Moneyslane Club has no facilities of their own at the moment but their wish for the future is a fully facilitated pitch changing area and clubroom “for all the children in the local community.” Speaking about the Club and Community Development Programme which is run by IFA Grassroots Development Officer Malcolm Roberts, Leonard said: “I myself have achieved a diploma in community foundation studies and have a great insight into working with other communities and their backgrounds.”
Moneyslane hope that the Club and Community Development Programme will give them the chance to “get new ideas and lots of experience” as well as the opportunity to “work with all the local community groups together as one as football is for all.” Leonard continued: “We aim to work with all kids and adults, whether they can kick a ball or not. The beautiful game is for all and especially for those who want to have fun and enjoyment.”
He also added his thanks to Malcolm Roberts “for all his help over the last few years in setting up courses and with his overall knowledge of the game itself.”
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