FORDE SET TO WALK AWAY

Sole All Star criticises Co. Board’s treatment of football

WEXFORD’S LONE football All Star, Matty Forde, has pledged to walk away from the inter-county football scene.

Forde’s shock admission follows a trying 2017 season for Wexford football, but his decision is directly related to the treatment he claims was meted out to the county Minor footballers this year.

And if that were not enough he was shocked, though not surprised, when informed that the County Board had taken a decision not to enter the 2018 Leinster Junior football championship, a decision that he says is ‘no doubt financial’.

Forde is not the type of person to make rash decisions, given his contribution to Wexford football both on and off the pitch.

In addition to his scoring feats, his displays over a glorious career saw him become Wexford’s lone footballer to be recognised with an All Star.

And though still playing through the pain barrier, helping his club to an Intermediate title a few weeks ago, Forde’s coaching abilities were recognised by Wexford football at inter-county and colleges level.

So it begs the question as to why he is walking away from coaching Wexford inter-county football teams?

‘I’m done with Wexford football as basically those at the top don’t give a damn about it,’ he said.

‘I’m going to concentrate on the club into the future, as I’m not interested in getting involved at inter-county, particularly after the way the Minor footballers were treated this year. The whole management team should have come out and highlighted what went on. It was a joke.

‘Wexford were still only a point away from qualifying for a Leinster final despite all that went on.

‘As we prepared for our championship game we were locked out of Wexford Park,’ he claimed.

‘We attended for a pre-arranged training session to find the gates locked. This was in preparation for the Wicklow game at Wexford Park.

‘We had to go over to the Clonard pitch in Coolcotts. About an hour later we were allowed into Wexford Park, only to find a water sprinkling system in operation on the pitch,’ he added.

‘All of this happened while all along we were not given access to the dual players. We were not given the same treatment as the Minor hurlers,’ Forde claimed.

‘Any time we went looking about anything we were told our budgets were cut. I would like to see the spend on the Minor hurlers compared to Minor football, and they (hurlers) were eliminated early.

‘Gear was also a problem. We hadn’t received our gear prior to the championship. It was eventually thrown into the centre of the dressing-room in a box.

‘We had to get it initialled ourselves. There was also the question of a lack of food for the squad.’

The Wexford Under-16 footballers were also withdrawn from the Fr. Manning Cup which led manager Peter Grannell to blast a decision which rocked the game in the county, leaving players, mentors and parents shocked.

‘Basically football in Wexford has no chance,’ Forde said.

‘The decision not to enter Leinster Junior football next year no doubt is also financial. And with the clubs getting nowhere, why bother?’

Meanwhile, new Senior football manager Paul McLoughlin has announced his full backroom team.

Joining him as selectors/coaches will be Mark Roche (Kilmore) and Gordon Ward, with the Kildare native who has been involved recently with Lucan Sarsfields set to double up as strength and conditioning coach.

The backroom also includes: Donal ‘Gammy’ O’Connor (sports injury treatment); Natasha Martin, Mick O’Toole and Christian O’Hara (strength and conditioning assistant coaches); Ian Costigan (video analysis and stats); Paudge Brennan and Tom Murphy (G.P.S. stats); Wayne Russell (goalkeeping coach); Dr. Kevin Byrne (medical); Wally Byrne (kitman). A consulting nutritionist is still to be announced.