On KDL and Asdee roles
developing and opening their own pitch a brand new Astro Turf named after their great legend the late George O’Callaghan RIP.
Kerry entering the Eircom League with an Under 21 team in 2000 playing in the EA Sports Cup against senior teams like Cork City at Mounthawk Park. Kerry hosting the 2007 Annual General Meeting of the FAI and the festival of football with visits to all the clubs by the delegates and dignitaries.
Asdee Rovers hosting the Republic of Ireland ladies team playing a Munster selection in a friendly at Craughdarrig Park. Receiving a presentation from the FAI in 2017 at the AGM in Kilkenny, The John Sherlock services to Football award.
Are there any areas you would like to see improvements?
Hopefully we can build on what we have achieved to date, but of course we would like to see more players enjoying our game all across the county, rural depopulation is a big issue and if we could see this addressed it would hopefully give us more players for clubs to field teams.
Many clubs have further plans for upgrading their facilities and hopefully the funding will come from the various agencies.
I am looking forward to seeing the plans for the development of grassroots football by the new board of the FAI and what plans they have for the improvement of our game.
We have been blessed with the development of the coaching side of the game in Kerry and I would like to see that continue to blossom so more players can have the opportunity to improve their skills.
I would also like to see Kerry host another tournament or a visit from a professional or national team for an exhibition match .
Will there ever be a Kerry team playing in the senior league of Ireland?
We would hope so and it would be great for the county to have a Kerry team to come and support every week.
This is something that is now developing with the structures now in place by both the Kerry District League and the Kerry Schoolboys and Girls league with teams from Under 13, Under 15,
Under 17 and Under 19 playing in the Airtricity Leagues so the pathway for a senior side is been developed.
Whether it is a consortium of interested parties or the Kerry District League that is charged with running a senior team remains to be seen, but I would love to be watching from the stands.
Pandemic where do we go from here?
We are all wishing to get back playing as soon as possible once the green light is given by the Government and the FAI. There are a lot of new guidelines and protocols we have to put in place which clubs are studying and implementing so hopefully in a few weeks we will be back on the fields again with everyone safe and well.