Great to see teams coming back home
Jim hopeful for the future
THIS will not be Jim McLaughlin’s first season in the WDFL but his excitement and enthusiasm have refused to wane despite his many, many years at the heart of Wicklow football.
He has seen people, newspapers and his own children pass through the soccer scene in the Garden County in that time but he remains the constant and he firmly believes that the WDFL is at its most healthy in a while.
“The 2017-18 season was a turning point for the league, every year before that for the last number of years the league had been losing teams out of the league. Lots of football was played through all divisions from youths right through to Over-35’s, all games in every divisions were finished which is a huge step forward for the league. We also had very few teams fold and pull out.”
How can it be improved again? “Lots of football and lots of good competition. Communication we have found is very important to keep teams and players informed and happy, we are talking to clubs, players and referees”.
There will be more communication required again this season due to the welcome sight of over half a dozen sides returning to their native county or remerging to once again tackle their local rivals.
“It’s great to see teams not only returning from other leagues but teams reforming and coming back in. During the close season we have added seven new teams from where we finished last year; Arklow Town, St. Anthony’s and Wicklow Rovers return from Leinster Senior league and great clubs like Rathnew and Avonmore’s first teams have re-established after both folding last term. Also, teams like Coolboy Rangers and Dargle Rovers have reformed and are returning to play in the league”.
Those new additions will not be plying their trade in the top flight. The Andy McEvoy Premier will comprise of only six teams and although quality is always welcomed over quantity; in an ideal world sides would not be facing the prospect of facing each other three times to conclude their 15game league campaign.
“Of course we would like more teams in the Premier Division but this year is about letting the teams in Division 1 develop structures and teams so that they can be Premier teams in the coming seasons. The Jim McLaughlin Premier Trophy should make up for the lower number of games in the Premier also.
“Last year, Newtown United played almost 30 games during league and cup runs so we are conscience of trying to fit all competitions in to the time we have”.
The Jim McLaughlin Premier Trophy has also enjoyed something of a facelift for this coming season.
“The plan is to bring the top two teams from Division 1 up to join the Premier teams and have two groups of four - Champions League style. Lots of quality competitive football is what it is all about.
Last season with all local and provisional and national competitions Wicklow League clubs played in 20 different competitions.”
Speaking of comebacks, Co. Wicklow will once again be represented in the Oscar Traynor Trophy whilst the Youths also return following a fine campaign in 2017/18.
“After several years away from the Oscar Traynor for one reason or another, this season we are back in it.
“This year Trevor O’Brien takes the helm, a very experienced coach and as his time managing with Gary Kelly at Newtown United shows; he is a proven winner. Trevor has built a very impressive management team around him (assistant manager Declan Carthy, selector Gary Kelly, goalkeeping coach Lee Fitzpatrick) who are all winners and all have huge experience of Wicklow League Football.
“Trevor is also a coach on our Youths Interleague Team and both teams will train together. It’s a fantastic opportunity for the young players to learn and gain experience by working with the older lads. We are also lucky to have held onto our Youths managers from last year, Darragh Keenan AND John Belmont, that led our county team to a quarter-final place where we were beaten by overall winners Cork Youth League.
“Just a note to say that last year’s Youths co-manager Ryan Cahill has had to step down from club and county management as he is returning to college - the league thank him for all his efforts last year and wish him well in the future.”
Finally, what does Jim McLaughlin have to say to the people that make this league the success that it is – the players, the managers, the coaches and just about anyone who plays a hand in keeping clubs running.
“We have very good teams in our Premier Division as we would expect to have. My wish is that our clubs in the lower divisions would and should aspire to gain promotion and join them in the top division in the county. Believe me I know you are good enough. They have some fine players in our other divisions who would not be out of their depth in the Andy McEvoy Premier.
“Look, over the past two seasons you have shown that not only can you live with teams from Dublin, you can match them and beat them in the two divisions they competed in.
“You have the players and the teams that can do well in the provincial and national competitions. Come on guys, you can do it for yourselves, your club and your league! Go for it!”