Win a new car on Walshestown FC jubilee!
WALSHESTOWN FC is celebrating 25 years of the club with the chance to win a brand-new car!
The club just launched its fundraising Golf Classic event to be held on June 8th as part of the silver anniversary year, and a shiny new Skoda from Western Motors is up for grabs for a hole in one.
It’s just one of several events which will mark this milestone year for the Co Louth sports club.
“It’s an exciting time for the club, and we have really gone from strength to strength over the years, actually doubling in size in the past five,” says current chairman Andrew Purcell.
“We have over 300 members now, and we are firmly part of the community, with fantastic local support.”
The club came from humble beginnings, playing in a borrowed field catering for 30 children, founded in the 1992/93 season, with three original trustees in Patrick McDonnell, Martin Boylan and Noel Marry.
Today, the club has a Clubhouse with four changing rooms, extensive pitches, training and referee facilities, and catering facilities.
“We started off with a great foundation and of course there are always going to be improvements and developments needed, but it’s an ongoing process,” says Andrew, who has three children playing for the club Rebecca (8), Hazel (10) and Andrew (14).
“It was really started because there was nowhere for the younger age group to play, with no juvenile club, and now we cater for all ages and abilities, from 5 to 16.”
They secured a field in 1994, built a clubhouse about a decade later and went on to develop some fine players and great teams.
The club serves the community from Clogherhead, Termonfeckin, Monasterboice and Togher, and the addition of the All-Weather pitch opened the club to more possibilities.
“We have three grass pitches – two full size, and a seven-a-side grass pitch - as well as the seven-a-side Astro pitch, so that means we can keep playing and training even in the rain,” he says with a laugh.
The completion of the all-weather project in 2016 was done through sports capital grants and with the assistance of €35,000 raised locally. It was an historic day for the club, with FAI President John Delaney called upon to perform the opening ceremony.
“We have 20 teams now, with two or three coaches per team, but we are always looking for volunteers to help out with the club.”
He says a lot of thought goes into who gets involved with the teams, and they provide the highest quality coaching courses for anyone wishing to help. Being at the heart of the community is important to the club and they have a great relationship with local schools. The clubhouse, built in 1992, is open to all, and fundraising provided a defibrillator which could be used by anyone in the area with proper training.
Indeed, fundraising is a major part of the club’s future and Andrew is hoping the chance to win a car will attract extra support this year.
“There is a lot of pride in the club, and we look forward to the whole community getting behind us and supporting our golf classic in Seapoint Club on June 8th,” he adds.
“Spaces and sponsorship opportunities are available and anyone who wants to take part can contact me on 087 8524891, Jim on 086 0730807 or Thomas on 086 2664664.”