Moatville grounds to be renamed ‘Tim Fitzgerald Park’

CHARLEVILLE Soccer Club are to honour their late chairman, Tim Fitzgerald, by renaming their Moatville grounds at Limerick Road, Charleville, ‘ Tim Fitzgerald Park’.

This will take place on July 1 next when the occasion will be marked by a game between former Republic of Ireland international players and a Charleville selection.

The club committee are asking former club players who would like to be considered for selection to contact them as soon as possible as there is bound to be a big demand to play in this game and spaces are limited. It is expected that each player will play for a minimum of 30 minutes before what should be a maximum attendance at this unique game.

It is fitting that the club should remember the late Tim Fitzgerald in this manner for it was he who steered the club for many years from when it was reformed in 1968 to progress from being the Cinderella of sport in Charleville to the club that it is today.

Along with his loyal committee they brought the club from obscurity to owing their own grounds at Moatville on the Limerick road, now to be renamed Tim Fitzgerald Park.

In the early years the club opted to play in the Limerick League simply because Limerick was nearer to Charleville than Cork and it was cheaper to get teams transported to play at Limerick venues, as they hadn’t the funds to travel to venues throughout Cork county.

Tim Fitzgerald played an enormous role in directing the club in the intervening years, including the securing of the six acres of land at Moatville for the club in the early 90’s. His untimely death in 2015 left a huge void in the club, but happily his legacy is being honoured by the present committee in naming the historic grounds in his memory.