CLUB CALL
WICKLOW ROVERS
Our senior first team got back to winning ways at the weekend when they defeated Portlaoise 5-1 at Whitegates.
This result was good enough to see them leapfrog Ayrfield United and back to the top of the league.
Gareth Murphy set them on their way after he latched onto a defensive mix up to slot the ball home.
Two goals in a couple of minutes ten minutes before the break put the game to bed.
First, Tom Smullen beautifully chipped the keeper after good work by Adam Cox, and then two minutes later Cox fired home to make it 3-0.
The scoring wasn’t finished there as on the stroke of half-time Gareth Murphy added his second to put the game out of the away sides reach to leave the lads 4-0 up at the break.
A Jim Foley surging run into the box five minutes into the second half saw him finish smartly to make it 5-0.
The away side eventually got on the score sheet but they had to wait till injury when they scored from a spot kick.
The Rovers back line of Jim Foley, Ian Brannigan, Rikki Quinn and David Rowan were rock solid all afternoon and ensured that Rossa Marron between the Rovers posts had a quite afternoon.
This was a good all round team performance from the lads and ensures the destiny of the title remains in their own hands.
An understrength under-15s came up against a very strong Rathnew side in the Community Shield final.
Even with a full strength side the lads were always going to find it tough against last season’s league and cup winners but when your down to the minimum it was always going to be tough.
A strong Rathnew side ran out 7-0 winners and hard that the lads tried they just found the villagers too good on the day.
With the club’s executive committee down to the bare minimum regards numbers, the club is urgently in need of volunteers to step forward to help out on the committee.
With only five members on the executive committee at present we are sending out this request for people to come forward to assist with the running of the club.
Just don’t assume someone else is going to step forward, the club seriously needs fresh blood in order to help the club progress and prosper.
The way it is at present the five people on the committee are snowed under with work and could do with a helping hand with the workload.
Any little bit of assistance would be a big help.
With 26 teams in the club, if we got one representative from each team to help out for one year we would then have a very healthy committee to help the club prosper.
If each team in the club had one representative on the committee every year we would definitely get a lot more done in order for the club to prosper.
The club promote soccer for schoolboys/girls, youths and senior men and ladies in the community, our club is growing all the time and the committee is getting smaller, any assistance with the help of running the club would be very much appreciated.
The club’s weekly junior soccer academy continues every Saturday morning (weather permitting) under the watchful eye of Senior club coach Johnny Dunne.
The academy takes places on the all weather pitch on the club grounds at Whitegates and is open to all kids from the age of three years to eight years.
The academy starts at 11 a.m. and finishes at 12. There is no need for registration so you can come along to any week that suits.
Come along and learn the skills of football while having fun and enjoyment, it’s a great way of meeting new friends as you learn the skills as you get prepared for the introduction to participate in organised league football in the coming years.
Everyone at Wicklow Rovers AFC would like to extend their sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Michael (Mick) Murphy of Friars Hill who sadly passed away recently.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Angela, children Mark, Rhona and Ian, his sister Margaret, brother Liam, cousin Anne, daughter-in-law Aileen, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, extended family and friends.
May he rest in peace. Anyone with anything for our club notes, Facebook page, club website or our weekly online newsletter can contact me by email at jimmy.nolan09@hotmail.com or by text to 087-9108706.
For all news regarding the club, check out our club website at www. wicklowrovers.com or the club Facebook page.
BRAY WANDERERS
There was no winner of the lotto jackpot on Sunday, February 17. Numbers drawn were 6, 8, 18 and 19. €30 lucky dip winners were Theresa Crinion c/o Declan Crinion, Vincent Walsh c/o V. Walsh, Treasa Kavanagh c/o V. Walsh. Next jackpot of €7,225.
You can play the Bray Wanderers lotto online through our website.
Any club or individual interested in selling Bray Wanderers lotto tickets on a commission basis please email admin@braywanderersfc.ie for further information.
2019 season tickets are now on sale. Adults €140, student (third level) €90, student/teens tickets (second level school) €60, OAP/ Senior citizen tickets €75, children (under 12) free (online registration only).
Tickets can be purchased online on our website or from the Carlisle Grounds.
Bray Wanderers begin their 2019 SSE Airtricity League First Division campaign on Friday, February 22 when they travel to face Cabinteely FC. Kick off at Stradbrook is 7.45 p.m.
For the latest club news visit our web site at http://braywanderersfc.ie.
NEWTOWN JUNIORS
Some of our teams will start their season next weekend with the rest in action the following weekend.
The following are the fixtures for the weekending February 23 and 24:
Under-9s away to Greystones Red, ko to be confirmed.
Under-11s at home to Greystones Yellow, ko Saturday at 11.30am.
Under-13s at home to Wicklow Rovers ‘B’, ko Sunday at 11.30 a.m.
(Fixtures aqnd K.O. times are subject to change).
All players playing football this season will have to be registered online at FAInet.
This process will be implemented by the club secretary with help from all team coaches and parents.
Details and further information on FAInet will be posted on all teams Group pages.
Anyone who requires further information on any matter regards FAInet please contact our secretary.
All our teams are all back training for the new season for a couple of weeks now and new players are always very welcome to join our club.
We will be fielding teams from under-8s up to under-13s.
Last season’s Academy team will now become this seasons under-8s team, though some of these players will be playing at the under-8s age group for two more years.
Our Development Squad practise every Saturday morning in the Community Centre Sports Hall from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. For all matters relating to training times etc for all our teams please contact our secretary, Hughie, at the contact details below.
Six players from the club will be celebrating their birthdays around this time including a couple of lads we missed out on a couple of weeks ago.
Those players are as follows, a trio from the Development Squad: Shane Farrell, Harry McCormick and Charlie Kelly, Rory O’Gorman and Elliott Biddle from the under-9s, and last but not least Dylan Dunleavy from the under-12s. Happy birthday lads from everyone at Newtown Juniors F.C.
Our second Last Man Standing competition of the season will start back on Tuesday, February 26/Wednesday, February 27 so if you would like to take part please let any of our committee members or coaches know and they will fill you in with all the information you require.
All monies we take in goes towards the youth of the area.
The village of Newtown and surrounding areas were shocked to learn of the passing of Peter ‘Padge’ Farrell last week.
Peter was a valued player on teams in our club in the late eighties/early nineties.
To his mother Denise, father Eamonn, siblings Paudie and Niamh, his grandfather Jimmy, his extended family and his large circle of friends, our club would like to offer our deepest condolences at this sad time.
The regard that many people held Padge in was evident by the huge turnout at his funeral mass. May he rest in peace.
For further information on all matters Newtown Juniors F.C. please contact the Secretary at 087 6987653 or by email to hughienolan@gmail.com and you can also follow the club on our Facebook and Twitter pages.