STILL UP IN THE AIR

While the government launched their living with Covid-19 programme, it looks like it will be some months before we get back to playing games.

We could be back training after Easter in perhaps pods of 15. This in itself would be a big help to both players, parents and guardians.

Over the next few weeks the committee will no doubt be looking at what’s best for the players and clubs. Could we have one round of fixtures in the lead up to the start of next season? At this stage it’s hard to see cup competitions taking place due to what will be a short time frame.

Managers and coaches will require at least one month to get their players back to match fitness so one can say it will be well into June before games can take place. If this was to happen then a new season would begin at the end of August. Again nothing is certain as we try and cope with new strains of the virus appearing every few weeks. To get vaccines out to the people is vital and if we are to believe that over 80% of the population will have got the first jab by the end of June then we could see leagues going ahead at the end of August.

Dare I say it but a big doubt surrounds two big competitions, namely the Kennedy Cup and Galway Cup. This would be a huge loss to everyone. Both did fail to go ahead last season but it was hoped that they would go ahead this season.

SUBWAY INTER LEAGUES

These competitions have been called off for this season as well as all national cup competitions. Again, everyone involved with these inter leagues will be so disappointed.

DEVELOPMENT SQUAD MANAGERS/COACHES

It’s been a terrible 12 months for these squads. The league will be looking for people to get involved in our U11 development team. People interested can get in touch with Gary Hartnett, league secretary.

WATERFORD FC FUNDRAISER

Waterford FC are selling club season tickets for the coming season at a very reasonable price of €150 for adult, concession €95, student €95 or U14s for €55. This really is just to show some support for the club. The idea came from some supporters. Supporters can phone Tony Burke at the office number of 051-377995 Monday-Friday, 10.30am-1.30pm (direct email: tony.burke@waterfordfc.ie).

This is a terrific discount price and hopefully we may be able to get in some games by the end of the season. The Blue have signed some terrific players for this season and it should be a great season ahead for the supporters.

NEXT WEEK

Chairman Brian Donnelly gives his views on where the leagues are going, looking ahead. As well as the leagues, Donnelly has also a view on our academies.

We should also have some news for clubs on where our U15 and U16 leagues are going. There will also be some news over the next few weeks on fundraising, not only for the league but also the clubs and hopefully the clubs will buy into this. However, this will not be made known until the first delegate meeting. When will that be – no date yet but it will happen. Many of the committee feel it’s better for a meeting with all the delegates present rather than a Zoom meeting, especially with what will be a very big agenda.

Our leagues secretary, Gary Hartnett has had some Zoom meetings and he will report to the delegates at their first meeting.

IRISH PLAYERS

We name a few players to watch going forward but none of them will be any benefit to Stephen Kenny for a while. An Everton boy, Tom Cannon is just 18 years old. He is a striker and God we could badly do with one right now. Another Irish boy, with Brighton, and again a striker is Evan Ferguson. A young lad, just 16 years old, he went from St Kevins Boys Club in Dublin. He is already in Brighton’s U23 squad and has scored recently against West Ham.

Another young lad from Shamrock Rovers, namely Sinclair Armstrong, just 17, is another striker. A 19 year old centre half from Arsenal’s U23 group, Mazeed Ogunbo, is doing well.

A not so young player who could get into Kenny’s panel is Greg Cunningham of Preston. A fullback, he is in their starting 11. A Waterford boy, Lee O’Connor, on loan at Tranmere Rovers, is doing well.

We then have the likes of Harry Arter of Nottingham Forest and Ronan Curtis of Portsmouth. Both have had injuries lately. Hopefully a few more lads will come on the radar over the next few weeks.

IRISH LADIES PLAYERS

Some Irish girls doing well across the water are Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Harriet Scott and Ruesha Littlejohn (Birmingham City), Courtney Brosnan and Leanne Kiernan (West Ham Utd), Grace Moloney (Reading), Megan Campbell (Man City), Megan Connolly and Rianna Garrett (Brighton and Hove Albion), Niamh Fahey (Liverpool), Alli Murphy and Hayley Nolan (London Lionesses).

Indeed it’s terrific to see these young girls making it across the water and all have done well for the Republic of Ireland.