CLUB CALL
ARKLOW TOWN FC
Our new dates for our Mini World Cup are out: The under-6s and 8s event will take place on Saturday, October 24. The following day sees the under-10s and 12s in action while the Sunday evening will be for the under-14s. Teams and times to follow. We still have places available.
Also, our lotto results for last week - no winners and next week’s jackpot is €5,600. Numbers were 20, -26, 28, and 29. The bonus number was 19.
WICKLOW ROVERS
Two of our junior teams availed of the opportunity to play under lights during the week, first up was our 13Bs as they took on Avonmore on Tuesday night. The Rathdrum side ran out 4-1 winners with Adam O’Brien nabbing his second goal of the season for Rovers.
On Friday night our 12Bs came up against a strong Arklow Town A team with the away side claiming all three points in a 6-0 win. In fairness to Rovers they battled right up to the final whistle.
On Saturday our 12As retuned to winning ways with a good 5-1 victory away to a spirited Newtown Juniors team. A brace a piece from Sean Patrick Guerin and Ronan Phelan and a single from Aaron Fitzsimons paved the way for a good win.
The under-14s played out a thrilling 2-2 draw with Arklow Town at Whitegates. Arklow raced into a 2-0 lead with Rovers rueing some missed chances in the first half. Rovers came roaring back and Lorcan Sinnott pulled one back and he followed that with an equaliser soon after.
The second period was all Rovers with Daniel Kavanagh, Lorcan Sinnott, Ben Doyle, Cian Byrne and Georgie O’Neill all having chances to win it, with a Ben Doyle effort rattling the crossbar after good work from Evan Conyard and Cian Byrne.
This was a great comeback from the lads but with the chances they created they could and possibly should have won it.
Our under-16s travelled to the Back Alley in Carnew to take on the local side, unfortunately for the lads they came up against a Carnew side at the top of their game with the home side running out 8-2 winners. James Fagan and Luke Dunne fired home the Rovers consolation goals.
Sunday’s action saw our under-13Bs narrowly edged out by St Anthonys A, losing 2-1 in a closely fought encounter. This was a game that could have went either way with only a kick of the ball between the sides, Adam O’Brien scored the Rovers goal for his third of the season.
The under-15s produced a five star performance to win 5-2 away to Glencormac United. A brace from Ruairi Jenkinson and a single from Alex Sinnott gave Rovers a 3-0 half-time lead. Ryan McConnell had a hand in all three goals with three superb assists. Alex Sinnott nabbed his second of the game to bring his tally to eleven for the campaign to make it 4-0 with Sam Culleton firing home to make it 5-0 before the home side added two late consolation goals.
This was the lads fourth win from five shield games and an excellent all-round team performance.
The under-18 girls recorded a fantastic result when they won 1-0 away to Enniskerry, the girls lost 4-3 to the same opposition at Whitegates last Sunday so they will be very happy with this win. Every girl played their part in an excellent victory. Molly Sweeney scored the all-important goal which sees her now netting in all three games to date.
The club are holding our AGM on Tuesday, October 13, in the Pastoral Centre in the old De La Salle. All members welcomed to attend. Please arrive early as the meeting will commence at 7.45pm sharp, thank you.
Membership fees have been halved due to the shortened season caused by Covid 19. Any member who paid their fees in full prior to the Covid-19 lockdown can utilise this overpayment towards their 2021 membership or request a reimbursement.
Two registration nights have already been held and a further two are planned as follows: Friday 2nd October and Friday 9th October. Fees can also be paid by bank transfer.
The final option is to pay via ClubZap our new club app. We request that all fees are paid by or on the 9th October 2020.
Please email wicklowroverssecretary@gmail.com in confidence should you need to arrange an alternative payment plan.
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 11am and finishes at noon.
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 Paul Davis and James Malone who sadly passed away recently.
Paul’s grandson Cameron plays on our 13B team, James’s grandson Milo plays for our under-10 green team while his grandsons Louis and Oscar are past members of the club.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this sad time, may they 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.
NEWTOWN JUNIORS
Our under-8s were idle last weekend. The under-9s hosted St Anthonys Yellow last Tuesday evening and played out a series of exciting games on the night. Among those who starred for
Newtown were Reece Kearns, Joe Carstairs, David Gray and Cian Foley.
The reason for the midweek game was the fact that some of the players were making their Holy Communion at the weekend. We hope them and their families had a very enjoyable day, they certainly got the weather. They play midweek this week as there are more of the team making their Holy Communion this coming weekend.
Many thanks to both St. Anthonys and Enniskerry for facilitating these games.
High scoring game for the 10s (kindly sponsored by Shape Construction) away to Roundwood as they lost out by the odd goal in eleven! Missing a whole host of players for various reasons, the team never let their heads dropped and deserved something from the game. The goalscorers were Bobby Spillane with two, Aaron Nolan, David McCormack, and an own goal.
Leon O’Connor led the way for the under-11s with a four-goal haul at home to Arklow Town Black. Nathan McMahon, Jack Barlow, Kayden McMahon and Albie Chance scored the other goals while Oisin Duffy and Ryan McDonald performed very well on the day.
The under-12s hosted Wicklow Rovers A and despite eventually going down to a 5-1 defeat the difference in the team’s display from last week was like chalk and cheese.
We took the lead through William Valentine and with a little more care we could have added a couple more.
Again, individual mistakes cost us, and the away side took advantage.
It would be unfair to single out any individual player as every player gave it their all. If we can keep that up, the results will improve.
The under-13s made it two home wins on the trot with a 4-0 home win over a gallant Greystones team. Brooklyn Doyle
scored an early double to put Newtown in control and with better finishing their lead may have been greater at half time.
Doyle completed his hat-trick late in the game after Cathal O’Toole had notched Newtown’s third. On the day William Valentine, Jake Robertson and Rose Kelly-Tynan were among the star players for Newtown. Our under-14s were idle last weekend.
The WDSL fixtures for the weekend of Sat.3rd/Sun.4th October are as follows,
U8’s away to Wicklow Rovers White ko to be confirmed; U9’s away to Enniskerry ko Tuesday 30th @ 6.15pm; U10’s at home to Glencormac Utd ko Saturday @ 12pm; U11’s away to Roundwood ko to be confirmed; U12’s at home to Ashford Rovers ko Saturday @ 10.30am; U13’S away to Arklow Utd A ko Sunday to be confirmed; U14’s at home to Greystones Utd ko Saturday @ 12pm.
While on the subject of games, last Sunday morning some of our coaches had to clear dog poo off the pitch.
While in general this practise has not been too bad this summer, the sportsfield is primarily for football matches and not for dogs to relieve themselves while their lazy owners look on.
We cannot police the fields 24/7 so we are asking folk to refrain from this disgusting practise.
Two players from the club celebrate a birthday in the coming week and they are Kacey Kelly and Nichita Neaga from the under-12s team. Happy birthday Kacey and Nichita from everyone at Newtown Juniors F.C.
The FAI updated its Safer Return to Training and Safer Return to Playing Protocols in accordance with the new Government guidelines announced last week (17th September 2020). We have since communicated this to all coaches and parents within the club. Most of the document is the same except for:
Spectators are now permitted to attend games but strictly in line
with the Government’s Resilience & Recovery 2020-2021- Plan for Living with COVID-19 policy document.
Two groups/Teams/Pods can train at the same time providing there Is sufficient distance between both.
No person/s other than those stated above should be in and around the training area and that includes dog walkers and parents playing with young children.
The 2M social distancing protocol still applies especially for all parents (spectators) and players (subs) who are on the sidelines at matches.
If anyone has any further enquiries regards the updated protocols, they can contact our COVID Compliance Officers Rory Hackett & Hughie Nolan.
The aim of Newtown Juniors F.C. on our return to training/ games is to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone, once we adhere to the guidelines laid down.
We will be continuing to update all protocols as we get them from the FAI, and we will also be holding regular de-briefing meetings with all coaches and supervisors. Anyone who requires further information can contact any committee member of the club.
We are always on the lookout for volunteers to fill several Roles within the Club. Recently we have been busy renewingand& reviewing our Club Safety Statement and our Club Risk Assessments. We have also had several Volunteers who did their Safeguarding Refresher 1 and we await courses both at Safeguarding and at Child Welfare when certain restrictions are lifted.
We would like to recruit a couple of MPs (Mandated Person) and DLP’s (Designated Liaison Person) to assist those already in these roles.
Those already in the roles are also coaches within the club and are on the executive committee but we would like volunteers to solely concentrate on these roles.
Full training will be provided. The roles are not very time consuming and may interest someone who would like to volunteer in the club in some capacity.
Finally, on a sadder note Newtown Juniors F.C. would like to extend their sincere condolences to the family and friends of John Sweeney (Greystones) who sadly passed away recently. 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.