Another successful Easter soccer blitz
Popular soccer blitz attracts 54 teams
THE Wicklow Soccer Blitz 2018 edition was a roaring success.
Headlined by Tony ‘Butch’ Doran, over 1,000 people were estimated to have passed through the gates of the Whitegates and Finlay Park on Friday as kids from around the county battled it out - all in the name of cancer support.
Doran has run the competition for five years now and all monies raised go to the Wicklow Cancer Support - an organisation that were crucial to Doran when he was caring for his late wife Adele.
Inspired by his beloved wife, Doran has ran it every year since her passing and could possibly reach the €50,000 landmark throughout those five years once all money has been counted.
Doran was worried that the day’s population may take a hit due to recent storms and clubs no longer playing in Co. Wicklow but he needn’t have worried as the man himself explains it’s success.
“It went very well. We had 54 teams in the end which was amazing.
“We’d nearly 500 children. There was roughly about 1,000 people there throughout the day. For a small tournament to have so many teams was just fantastic. We finished on time and everything!
“It was all about the Wicklow Cancer Support. The Wicklow community (were fantastic); they came from Coolboy, they came from Shillelagh, they came from Carnew, they came from Arklow, they came from Kilcoole, they came from Greystones, they came from Newtown - they came from everywhere.
“The county board put in three girls teams as well.
“Everyone got a game. Everyone got the same medal or trophy. Everyone enjoyed it - it was all about enjoyment.”
The total amount raised will be revealed at the Wicklow Cancer Support coffee morning, due to be ran later this month. On Saturday, a raffle was also conducted and in a few weeks time, Doran will organise another raffle to find the lucky man or woman that will win the jersey worn by Jamie Carragher when Liverpool came from 3-0 down to beat AC Milan in the Champions League final in 2015.
It is far from a one-man show and Doran simply couldn’t do it without the incredible amount of help and support he receives.
“Considering the bad weather and everything in the last few months, we got through it very well. We’re down to six people on the committee but they do tremendous work.
“Myself and my wife started it in 2013 while Adele was receiving treatment. Wicklow Cancer Support helped me so much in that time. They never turn anyone away. If anyone goes to them, they will help them.
“We started at half nine and finished at six o’clock and there was games going throughout the day - the games never stopped.
“I’ve always been involved in football and to me, it’s all about seeing kids enjoying themselves and they all did enjoy themselves on Friday. I’m getting messages from everywhere and even people who would have had no interest in it are ringing me to congratulate me.”
It may have been Adele’s passing that lead to this wonderful annual event but Doran is not the first - sadly, nor will he be the last - to suffer at the hands of cancer. And he wants to thank anyone who has helped him this year in any way.
“Cancer is very close to everyone’s heart. This gives them a chance to contribute to Wicklow Cancer Society while playing a bit of football and having fun at the same time.
“All volunteers were absolutely brilliant - there are so many to thank that I couldn’t do it individually. My committee were brilliant. We had volunteer referees, volunteers doing the traffic, volunteers making sure the matches ran on time.
“We couldn’t have done it without the two clubs - Wicklow Town and Wicklow Rovers - supplying the pitch and having them ready for us. This was a community thing. Everyone helped in whatever capacity they could.”